CLERMONT, Fla.--The Hood College softball team (5-3) bested Suffolk University, 9-1 in five innings, but lost to Haverford College, 5-4, on the squad's second day of play at the National Training Center Games Tuesday evening.

The entire slate of games was pushed back two hours due to rain in the morning, and Hood's second contest with Haverford did not get underway until 9:30 p.m.

In game one versus Suffolk, Hood used a three-run first and a six-run fourth to clinch their fifth win of the season. Carly Farr went 2-for-3 with a double and a three-run home run, while Alexa Sivic collected a two-run double and Liz Decembrino had an RBI-single.

The Rams got on the board first after Meredith Ball doubled to left and later came around to score on a double steal. Starter Jenn Rutherford minimized the damage however, getting the number four and five hitters in the lineup to ground out to retire the side.

Hood strung together four straight hits and plated three runs in the bottom of the frame. Ashley Fourcade singled to left center on a fly ball that dropped between the left and centerfielders and Amy Hagerdon came around to score. The next batter, Sivic ripped an 0-1 pitch to left that brought around Farr and Fourcade to make it 3-1 Hood.

Rutherford settled in and did not allow a Ram base runner past second base the rest of the way. Hood meanwhile broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth after rapping out five hits and scoring six runs. Kali Ball led off the inning with a single up the middle, then Jackie Yurchak singled through the left side and Jackie Wenzel reached on a bunt single to load the bases with nobody out. Decembrino came up with a clutch hit through the left side which plated Ball, and Casey Dunn followed with a sacrifice fly to left which scored Yurchak. The next batter Hagerdon hit a sharp grounder to short and the shortstop Nikki Cignarella threw home to try and get Wenzel, but she slid safely under the tag to account for Hood's sixth run of the game. Farr then stepped in and launched a 1-1 offering from Julia Ludvigsen to deep left that clanked off the leftfield foul pole for a three-run homer. The dinger was Farr's second of the spring and proved to be enough for Hood to earn the five-inning victory.

Rutherford needed just 59 pitches to earn the win in the circle; she scattered six hits and struck out one Ram hitter while not allowing a walk.

In game two, Ford starter Emily Winesett was in control for the first four innings, as she struck out 10 of the first 14 batters she faced. Hood starter Keerstie Robinson held her own in the circle, surrendering a single run in the bottom of the first on an RBI-single by Jen DiCandilo through the first four frames.

Hood had a great scoring chance in the top of the fifth. Ball led off the inning with a single to center and Yurchak beat out a bunt single to third. Robinson proceeded to sacrifice both runners into scoring position with a bunt back to the circle. After Katie Jenkins struck out, Dunn stepped in and hit a sharp liner down the rightfield line that was stabbed in the air by the first baseman Dayle Comerford, which saved two runs and ended the threat.

The Fords put together a big inning in the fifth, plating three runs on a base hit, two walks, a hit batter, a Blazer throwing error and a wild pitch.

But Hood wouldn't back down and finally got to Winesett in the top of the sixth with a two-out rally. Hagerdon led off the frame with a single and two batters later Sivic drew a walk. Alexis Briscoe came in to run for Sivic at first but ended up having the luxury of trotting around the bases as Ball smashed a 2-0 offering from Winesett over the left field fence for her first collegiate home run, which drew the Blazers to within 4-3. Yurchak kept the rally going with a single down the left field line. Robinson then doubled to centerfield and Yurchak came around to score the tying run after the relay throw from center got by DiCandilo at third.

Some alert base running by the Fords led to what would prove to be the game-winning run. Julie Garlick lined a one-out single up the middle and after Jill Schnall popped out to first baseman Jenkins in foul territory, lead-off hitter Elizabeth Newman reached on a dropped fly ball by Ball at short. Then with Miwa Wenzel at the plate, Sivic's throw back to Robinson didn't quite reach the circle, and Garlick broke for third and came all the way around to score. Wenzel ended up fouling out to Fourcade at third to end the inning.

Hood was unable to draw even in the seventh, as Hagerdon was stranded at first base after she reached on a one-out single to left.

Robinson struck out five hitters and allowed just one earned run in the losing effort. Winesett finished with 15 strikeouts and walked just one in the win.

The Blazers will enjoy an off day Wednesday before returning to the diamond Thursday against Becker College and St. Lawrence University.