FREDERICK, Md. - Hood scored 10 runs over the final two innings to defeat Eastern Mennonite 13-5 in six innings in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader, then won 10-2 in five innings in the second game.
At the Plate
- Jocelyn Pfleiger (Quakertown, Pa./Dock Mennonite Academy) homered in both games to lead the Blazers' offense. The two homers moved her into fifth place on Hood's career list with 11. The sophomore finished the day a perfect 6-for-6 with two walks. Pfleiger drove in five and scored four times.
- Rachel Benden (Gaithersburg, Md./Damascus) had a pair of two-hit games and ended the day 4-for-6.
- Rebecca Gottleib (Linthicum, Md./North County) doubled, homered and drove in four over the two games.
Inside the Circle
- Jordan Long (Middletown, Md./Middletown) and Gottleib each tossed complete game wins.
- In game one, Long allowed just two earned runs on 11 hits over six innings.
- Gottleib got the ball in game two and gave up two runs on six hits and two walks, striking out four.
Hood 13, EMU 5 (6 innings)
- Trailing 5-3 heading to the bottom of the fifth, Pfleiger started Hood's rally with solo homer to lead off the frame. Benden reached on a one-out double, scoring on an Alyssa Walters (New Oxford, Pa./New Oxford) single to tie the game at 5-5. Senior Lindsay Wilson (Pasadena, Md./Annapolis Area Christian School) drove in Walters later in the inning with an RBI groundout for the lead.
- The Blazers put the game away in the sixth, scoring seven runs on just two hits. Six Hood batters walked in the inning and two more were hit by pitches. Colleen Blasko (Bowie, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) singled and walked in the inning, Chloe Saunders (Middletown, Md./Middletown) walked twice and Pflieger, who walked in her first appearance of the sixth, hit a walk-off single to end the game. The Blazers drew four bases loaded walks in the inning and both hit batters drove in runs, as well.
- Hood's first three runs came in the bottom of the first. After base hits by Saunders and Pfleiger, Gottleib clubbed a three-run home run to center field to make it 3-1.
- The Royals scored on an RBI double by Samantha Hensley in the first and Autumn Bailey's run-scoring single in the second to stay within a run of Hood.
- In the fourth inning, a two-out error at first base opened the way for four-straight singles, resulting in three runs as EMU went ahead 5-3 before the Blazers reclaimed control.
- Natalye Graham allowed seven runs on 10 hits and two walks to take the loss. Grace Fravel and Kaitlyn Fletcher combined to surrender six runs on one hit and six walks in the sixth.
Hood 10, EMU 2 (5 innings)
- The Blazers led 1-0 before a nine-run third inning put the game out of reach.
- Pfleiger doubled and scored in the first for a 1-0 lead.
- The lead stood until Hood's first nine batters reached base in the third. Saunders singled and scored on Pfleiger's second home run of the day to make it 3-0. A Gottleib double, Benden single and a walk by Walters quickly reloaded the bases. After a run-scoring hit by Izzy Tanacea (Charlton, Mass./Bay Path RVT), Mallorie Hetzel (Pasadena, Md./Northeast) and Gabby Carton (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) drove in two runs apiece to make it 8-0. Pfleiger's third RBI of the inning and a sac fly by Gottleib stretched the lead to 10 before the Royals finally escaped the inning.
- Eastern Mennonite's only two runs of the game came via RBI singles by Reese Rogers and Fletcher in the fourth.
- Fletcher gave up 10 runs in three innings to take the loss.
Notes
- Before the game, Hood honored Benden, Blasko and Wilson for their contributions to the program.
- Hood evened its record at 3-3 on the year, while EMU sank to 4-4.
Up Next
The Blazers kick off their spring trip to Florida with games against Wesleyan University and St. Norbert on Mar. 13 in Winter Haven.
