The Middlebury softball team started its season with an 11-2 victory over Wellesley in five innings on Saturday evening during its annual spring trip to Florida. The Panthers return to action on Sunday with a pair of contests, taking on Grinnell at 1:30 p.m. followed by a 4:30 p.m. contest against Wellesley.
Trailing 1-0,
Jen McGann led off with a walk in the bottom of the first inning and moved to second on a fielding error by the Blue. McGann and
Sophie Bolinger came around to score on a double into the left-center field gap off the bat of
Noelle Ruschil for a 2-1 lead.
Abby Santis lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, driving in Ruschil for a 3-1 advantage.
The Panthers tacked on two more runs in the second, as Ruschil belted a home run to left field and brought in Bollinger who singled to make it 5-1. The homer is the first of the season and the sixth of Ruschil's career.
Middlebury exploded for six runs on six hits in the bottom of the third when Jordan Johnson got things going, slapping a run-scoring single to left. The big hit of the frame came off the bat of Bollinger, who ripped a three-run double to right center. Santis made it 11-1 with a two-run double to bring home Bolinger and Ruschil who drew a walk.
The Blue added a run in the top of the fourth when Hannah Cain singled to left and moved to second on a base hit from Holly Chin. Cain raced around to touch home plate on a single up the middle by Ingrid Hsu for the final 11-2 tally.
Ruschil paced the Panther offense that collected 14 hits, going 2-2 with four RBI and three runs scored. Bolinger went 2-3 with three runs scored and three RBI, while Santis was 2-2 with three RBI and a sac fly.
Megan Fox (2-3),
Nina Schroeder (2-3, R) and
Tori Papaleo (2-3, R) all had mutli-hit games.
Jewel Ashbrook pitched the first two innings in the circle for the Panthers, allowing a run on two hits with a strikeout.
Samantha Hausman recorded her first collegiate win, giving up just one run on six hits.
Abigail Jankowski tossed an inning for the Panthers.
Marisa Hensch was 3-3 at the plate with a run scored for the Blue, while Hayley Moniz suffered the loss for Wellesley.
