FREDERICK, Md.--The Hood College softball team split a doubleheader with the visiting Villa Julie College Mustangs Saturday afternoon in the season opener for both teams at the Hood Softball Complex.

Junior Alecia Weddle was the hero for the Blazers in the first game as she delivered a clutch pinch-hit two-run single in the bottom of the seventh to clinch a 6-5 victory for Hood. In the nightcap, Villa Julie batted around in the fifth inning and plated eight runs to break open a 4-1 game and went on to win 12-4 in a game that was called after five innings due to darkness.

In the opener, Hood starter Jamie Gardner worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the first inning without allowing a run. The Blazers got on the board in the bottom of the frame when Tamara Maggard scored following an error by the third baseman.

But Villa Julie touched Gardner for three runs on four hits in the top of the third and added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 5-1 lead. The Blazers got two back in the bottom of the fifth when Maggard and Ashley Lenhart came around to score on another Mustang miscue. Rightfielder Christina Kiel was unable to squeeze a fly ball by Kara Robert which allowed the Blazers to cut the deficit in half.

The Mustangs loaded the bases again in the top of the seventh but Gardner got Samantha Rice to pop up to Christine Harvey at first to end the threat.

In the bottom of the inning, the Blazers loaded the bases on back-to-back walks by Robert and Harvey and Jess Krietz reached on a fielderýs choice which brought Gardner to the plate. She skied a fly ball to left field which was deep enough to score Robert from third. Krietz and Harvey each moved up a base after Sarah Moelter was called for an illegal pitch. On a 3-2 delivery with two outs, Weddle laced a clean base hit into centerfield which brought in the game-winning runs for Hood.

Gardner went the distance and picked up her first win of the season despite allowing five runs on 10 hits. She also struck out four batters and walked three.

Hood tallied just five hits in the victory, and only one for extra bases.

In the second game of the twinbill, the Mustangs sent 12 hitters to the dish and plated eight runs in the fifth inning to earn the split. Hood rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth but the game was halted following that frame due to darkness.

Junior Jamie Bussey went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs for the Blazers.

Hood will embark on an eight-game road trip to Savannah, Ga., for spring break. The Blazers will participate in the Smash Hit Spring Break Tournament hosted by Savannah College of Art and Design. Hood will take on Haverford College Monday at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.