WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Hood College softball team split their doubleheader with Catholic University to open the 2024 season, winning the first game 7-4, but falling in the second game 8-2.
At the Plate
Rebecca Gottleib (Linthicum, Md./North County) was nearly perfect, finishing the day 6-7, including a 4-4 outing in game one, totaling three RBIs with two doubles, scoring four times, and a home run in the first inning of the second game.
Hannah Cohen (North Wales, Pa./North Penn High School) batted 3-4 in game one, racking up three RBIs.
On the Mound
Gottleib was Hood's hurler in game one, allowing nine hits and four runs during the game with only one of them being earned. She also struck out four batters.
Hood 7, Catholic 4
The Blazers got off to a hot start, as after the first two batters got on base, Gottlieb hit a ground-rule double to score one before Cohen singled home the runner on third and
Robin Charlton (Philadelphia, Pa./MaST Community Charter School II) drove Gottleib home with a sacrifice fly.
Catholic looked prime to quickly retake the lead with the bases loaded and just one out in the bottom of the first, but Gottlieb managed to get out of the jam with just one run given up.
Both teams managed to get a runner to cross home plate in the third, and it took until the seventh inning for either team to get back on the board, when Cohen cleared the bases with a double, later scoring after a single from
Mallorie Hetzel (Pasadena, Md./Northeast) to give Hood a 7-2 lead.
Although it looked like the Cardinals might have some life after throwing errors allowed two of their runners to make it all the way around the diamond, Gottleib struck out the final batter to lift the Blazers to their first win in their first game of the season.
Catholic 8, Hood 2
Hood kept up the momentum from the last game in the first inning, as Gottleib smacked a ball right back down the middle of the field for a two-run home run.
In the bottom of the frame, Catholic got a run back before tying the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the second.
While the Blazers could not get any more offense going, the Cardinals took a 4-2 lead in the third, adding a pair in the fourth and sixth innings as well, as Hood was only able to get four more baserunners after their home run, flying out to end the game
and split the day.
For the Opponent
Katie Scolese and Sophia Fike both batted 3-4 in the second game.
Mia Szap went 2-4 with two RBIs in game one.
Up Next
The Blazers come home for their first doubleheader against Gettysburg College Saturday, March 2 at 1 and 3 p.m.
