The Middlebury softball team split a pair of games Wednesday during its annual spring break trip to Clermont, Florida. The Panthers began the day with a 14-3 win in five innings against RIT in windy conditions, but dropped the second game by a 4-3 score to Elmhurst. Middlebury moves to 5-3 overall, and will play a pair of games Thursday against Colby and Luther.

In the first game against RIT, the Panthers scored early and often with crooked numbers in four of the five innings. Middlebury posted three runs in the top of the first, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Sarah Freyre. RIT answered with two unearned runs in the home half of the frame.

Middlebury kept the bats rolling, scoring three in the third, sixth in the fourth and two more in the fifth. RIT added a run in the bottom of the fifth, but the NCAA's eight-run rule was invoked.

At the plate, Jackie Stern was 3-4 with two RBI for Middlebury, while Hye-Jin Kim was 3-3 with three runs scored and a pair of RBI. Christina Bicks was 2-3 with two runs scored and three RBI, as Middlebury pounded out 13 hits and induced eight walks.

Kat Maehr improved to 2-0 for the Panthers, going the first four innings. She gave up two unearned runs and four hits. Kate Bauman pitched the final inning and struck out a pair.

In the day's second game against Elmhurst, the game remained scoreless until the second. Elmhurst tallied a single run when Alyssa Jasinski tripled to center and promptly stole home. The Panthers tied the game in the bottom of the frame when Freyre doubled, and scored on an RBI single to right by Carlyn Vachow.

The Bluejays scored twice in the top of the third with an RBI single from Clare Bukowski and a sacrifice fly from Jasinski. Middlebury pulled to within a run in the third thanks to an Elmhurst miscue. Siobhan O'Sullivan reached first via a passed ball following a strikeout, eventually scoring on a ball that was misplayed off the bat of Emma Hamilton.

The Bluejays added a run in the top of the fourth. Tiffany Potthast tripled to center and scored on a single from Brianna Thompson. Middlebury scored a run in the fifth when Kimber Sable reached on an error, and scored on an RBI single from Christina Bicks.

Freyre went 2-3 with a run scored for Middlebury at the dish.

Erin Giles pitched the first three frames for the Panthers. She allowed three runs on six hits, while Neve Stearns was saddled with the loss. Stearns (0-1) surrendered one run on five hits in the final four innings.