FREDERICK, Md. – A flurry of home runs from
Rebecca Gottleib (Linthicum, Md./North County) and
Jocelyn Pfleiger (Quakertown, Pa./Dock Mennonite Academy) was not enough to overcome the offense of Stevenson University, as the Blazers were swept in their first conference doubleheader 10-8 and 14-2.
Inside the Box Score
Gottleib batted 5-9 on the day, mashing three home runs that totaled six RBIs.
Kaelyn Blocher (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg) also went 5-9 at the plate, including a 3-3 outing in game two.
Pflieger hit 2-4 in game one, sending one over the fence for three RBIs.
How it Happened – Stevenson 10, Hood 8
After getting out of the top of the inning quickly, Gottleib showed her two-way capabilities immediately by sending a ball over the left field fence to give Hood an early 1-0 advantage.
Stevenson would take the lead in the third with a two-run inning, but the Blazers would get it back again in the fifth when a Pfleiger bomb to center field cleared the bases for a 4-2 Hood lead.
Things got interesting in the sixth, as the Mustangs sent five runners around the diamond to put the Blazers in a 7-5 hole, but the home team managed to get one runner around to go into the seventh down 7-6.
The Mustangs brought more offense into the final frame, hitting a home run before putting up two more runs to take a 10-6 advantage before the Blazers got their last chance.
Down to their last out, Hood managed to put two runs on the board and get the winning run up to the plate, but the first line drive off her bat went straight to the first baseman to end the game 10-8 in favor of Stevenson.
How it Happened – Stevenson 14, Hood 12
In a game featuring 20 hits for both teams, it is not hard to imagine it starting off with a bang, as the Mustangs got four runs across in the top half of the inning before the Blazers went through the order their first time up, managing to get five runs of their own while chasing Stevenson's starting pitcher immediately.
The Mustangs got the only runs in the second and third innings, adding two and one to their total before tacking on another two in the top of the fourth to put Hood in a 9-5 hole.
The Blazers were not out of the fight just yet though, as Gottleib slapped yet another ball over the fence for a two-run home run before Pfleiger and
Chloe Saunders (Middletown, Md./Middletown) scored to tie the game up.
Another solo scoring inning for Stevenson put them on top once again 11-9 a shockingly scoreless sixth inning set up another tight seventh.
Unfortunately, the Mustangs would not go scoreless two innings in a row, adding three more runs to their total to take a 14-9 advantage with the Blazers down to their final three outs. Things started off great for them though, as the first five runners got on base, cutting their deficit down to just 14-11 with the bases loaded and no outs. Down to their last out once again, Hood tacked on another run while keeping the bases loaded to put the winning run on first, but the next batter struck out, abruptly ending
their comeback short 14-12 in favor of Stevenson.
Up Next
The Blazers continue conference play at home with a doubleheader matchup against Alvernia Saturday, March 23 at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.
