The Middlebury softball team rebounded from a setback against the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater to start the day Wednesday with a triumph over the University of Chicago in its second game in Florida. The Panthers (5-2) fell to the Warhawks 11-3 in six innings, before doubling up the Maroons 10-5. The team continues its spring trip on Thursday, taking on Union at 10:00 a.m., followed by a game with Allegheny at 12:15 p.m.
Against UW-Whitewater, the Warhawks jumped out to the early lead with four runs in the home half of the first inning. Sydney Anderson had the big hit of the frame with a two-run single.
The difference increased to 5-0, but Middlebury quickly closed the gap in the top of the third. Jordyn Johnson and Adriana Santiago-Lucena each singled, before touching the plate on a three-run homer to center field by Noelle Ruschil to make it a 5-3 contest.
UW-Whitewater countered with two runs in its portion of the inning and later added a single tally in the fifth for an 8-3 advantage. The Warhawks added three additional runs in the bottom of the sixth for the 11-3 final.
Ruschil finished 2-3 at the plate for the Panthers, belting her team-leading third home run of the spring to go along with a double and three RBI. Abby Santis reached base twice with a two-base hit and a walk.
In the circle for Middlebury, Abigail Jankowski (0-1) got the start and yielded seven runs in three innings, but only three of those were earned.
For UW-Whitewater, Krista Sbarra had a solid effort, going 3-4 with two runs scored, two RBI and a pair of stolen bases. Mallory Hollatz (3-2) pitched a complete game to earn the win, allowing three runs on six hits.
The Panthers bounced back early in the second contest of the day, plating a pair of runs in the first inning. Jen McGann led off with a base hit and scored on a Chicago error, while Sophia Marlino drove in Sophie Bolinger with a ground out for a 2-0 cushion.
After the Maroons scored in the second, Middlebury responded with a pair in the third. McGann again raced home on an error and Santis had an RBI single to left to make it a 4-1 game.
Middlebury produced a four-run fourth inning with McGann being the catalyst. The Panther drilled a three-run homer to score Marina Lyon and Johnson, while Santis made it 8-1 with a run-scoring double.
The Maroons trimmed the difference to 8-5 in the fifth, but Middlebury got two runs back in the latter half of the frame when Johnson singled in a run and came around to score on a wild pitch.
McGann finished the game a perfect 4-4 at the plate with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored. Santis had two hits and two RBI, while Johnson had a pair of hits and scored twice.
Samantha Hausman (3-1) earned the win, allowing only two hits over five innings, while Jankowski tossed the final two frames.
Lainey Hughes drove in three runs for Chicago, while Delaney Romanchick (1-2) took the loss.
