The Middlebury softball team opened up is 2018 season by facing Allegheny and Thomas in a pair of games in Clermont, Florida. The Panthers took the season-opener by a 4-3 score over Allegheny (6-7), before coming from 5-0 down for a 9-5 win over Thomas (4-4). Middlebury (2-0) returns to action on Saturday with games against Farmingdale State at 2:00 p.m. and Juniata at 4:30 p.m.

Trailing 2-0, Middlebury plated a pair of runs to tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth inning. Emily Moore led off with a double to left center and scored when Kaylee Gumm singled through the left side. Two batters later, Olivia Bravo belted a double to left, driving in Gumm to knot the game.

The Panthers went on top 3-2 in the fifth when Allison Quigley singled to right and later scored on a ground out by Liza Tarr. The Gators responded in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single from Jessica Gordon, tying the game at 3-3.

Middlebury scored the game-winner in the top of the seventh. Quigley led off with a single to right and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Taylor Gardner. Tarr followed, ripping a double to left center to plate Quigley.

Quigley (1-0) allowed just one earned run and five hits over seven innings of work to pick up the victory. She aided her own effort with a 3-4 game at the plate, scoring twice, including the game-winning run in the seventh. Moore finished the game 2-3 with a run scored.

Kayla Mahen (2-4) took the loss, allowing four runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings of work. Five different players singled for the Gators.

Thomas jumped out to a 5-0 lead in game two, before Middlebury struck for four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Gardner left off with a single to right and Tarr walked, before a triple down the right-field line by Moore drove them both in. Gumm followed with a two-run blast to center, cutting the lead to 5-4.

The Panthers added four runs again in the fifth, going on top 8-5. Gardner doubled with pinch runner Clare Tipler scoring when Tarr doubled to right. Gumm later reached on an error as Tarr crossed the plate. Kati Daczkowski doubled to center to drive in Gumm, while Ali Della Volpe earned an RBI on an infield single when Daczkowski crossed the plate.

Middlebury added a run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Gardner, driving in Melanie Mandell, who led off with a double to center.

Emily Morris (1-0) earned her first career win, throwing five innings of two-hit relief with seven strikeouts. Gardner finished 2-3 with a double, Tarr went 2-3 with a double and two runs scored, while Bravo earned a pair of hits in four at-bats.

Katlyn Coulter (3-1) suffered the loss, allowing five earned runs and nine hits over 4.1 innings of work. Anna Piirainen had a 2-3 game with a double, while Coulter finished the contest 2-4 with a triple and three RBI to pace Thomas.