Softball | 3/26/2014 7:00:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CLERMONT, FL – The RIT softball team (1-7) concluded play by dropping a pair of contests at the Dot Richardson Spring Games on a cool, windy, Wednesday morning at the National Training Center. RIT opened the day by falling to Middlebury (5-2) by a score of 14-3 in five innings, and dropped a heartbreaker in walk off fashion to Thomas College of Maine (2-1), 5-4.

In the opener against Middlebury, the Panthers jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning before RIT rallied back with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. Brittany Griffin (Sterling, VA/Park View ) led off with a single and moved to second on a bunt by Alexa Farner (Gowanda, NY/Gownanda) that was bobbled by the first basemen, putting runners on first and second. After a fielder's choice moved Griffin to third, she scored when Sarah Wolcott (Cohocton, NY/Wayland-Cohocton) reached on an error. Kelsey McManus (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon ) then singled in a run.

Middlebury added to its lead by scoring three in third, six in the fourth, and two more in the fifth inning. RIT would score its final run in the fifth, as Sam Killian (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) would walk and later score on an error.

RIT would leave 11 players on base. McManus went 2-for-3, while Killian walked three times.

Hye Jin-Kim and Jackie Stern would lead Middlebury with three hits and two RBI's apiece. Christina Bicks would drive in three runs for the Panthers. On the mound, Kat Maehr would strike out six batters over four innings to earn the win.

In the second contest, RIT jumped out to leads of 2-0 and 3-1 before Thomas roared back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 4-3 lead. The Tigers would tie the game at 4-4 in the sixth before Thomas won the game in the bottom of the seventh.

RIT would go up 2-0 in the second, as Sam Killian (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) and Amber Libby (Waterboro, ME/Massabesic) would single with one out. Two batters later, Farner delivered the big blow, a two-run triple into the right centerfield gap. In the third inning, RIT would take a 3-1 lead, as Griffin would double home Sarah Wolcott (Cohocton, NY/Wayland-Cohocton).

Down 4-3 in the sixth, RIT would tie the game, as Libby ripped a double to the wall in left field, advance to third on a single by Farner, and score on an error with two outs.

Thomas would win the game in the seventh, as Lindy Hoopingarner led off with walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and go to third on a single. Courtney Veileux attempted a safety squeeze, as RIT had Hoopingarner out at the plate, but her slide was able to jar the ball free, giving Thomas the win.

Farner was 2-for-4 with a two-run triple, while Tori Blaker (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post West) also had two hits. Libby went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Griffin ripped her sixth double in just eight games this season.

RIT starter Sierra Valentine (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) allowed just three hits in the complete game defeat, walking five, while striking out three batters.

Griffin led all RIT batters in Florida by batting .407 with six doubles and a .630 slugging percentage. McManus homered and drove in six runs, while Amanda Cook (Royal Palm Beach, FL/Suncoast) and Sarah Wolcott (Cohocton, NY/Wayland-Cohocton) hit .348 apiece.

The Tigers return to action on Tuesday, April 1 with a road doubleheader at Keuka that gets underway at 3 p.m.