Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 CLERMONT, Fla. – The Fire split two at the National Training Center today, losing first to ninth ranked St. Xavier University, 6-4, then beating Indiana Tech immediately following, 4-0.
St. Xavier pitcher Nicole Nonnemacher graced the mound in the bottom of the seventh up 6-0 and just three outs away from a no hitter, but Cat Maldonado had other plans. She showed out once again sending a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left-center field for the Fire's first hit and run of the game.
Maldonado's dinger sparked the Fire to a last ditch rally. Down 6-1 with one out and runners on second and third, Sam Silver grounded out for an RBI to make it 6-2. With runners on second and third again, Emily Bryant took a turn at the plate and sent a single to left that scored the final two runs.
St. Xavier crossed two in the first, one in the second, and three in the fifth before the Fire bats finally came alive in the seventh.
The Fire were outhit nine to three and each team committed a single error.
Susan Hinks suffered the loss on the mound and moved to 7-4. She threw four of seven innings and gave up five runs on seven hits.
Game two against Indiana Tech played out a bit differently as the Fire outhit their opponent 10 to three.
Each team recorded a single hit in the first, but failed to cross the plate. Then, in the top of the second the Fire scored three runs on four hits.
Brandee Pietrzak, Sam Gale, and Bryant led off the inning with three consecutive singles; Bryant's effort good for an RBI. Then with one out and runners on second and third, Bri Girardin bunted and was put out at first, but not before Gale crossed for run number two. An RBI single by Annie Weaver concluded the scoring in the second.
The Fire scored their fourth and final run the following inning on a RBI single by Gale who was 3-for-3 in game two.
Emily Bryant tossed five innings and earned the win as she allowed just two hits and struck out one batter.
The Fire will take to the diamond again on Monday when they host Grand View University at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
