FREDERICK, Md. – A first-game offensive outburst could not be duplicated in game two, as the Hood College softball team split a doubleheader with non-conference opponent Wilson, ending the game early in the sixth inning with an 12-2 mercy rule victory, but falling in the second game 7-4.
In the Circle
Rebecca Gottleib (Linthicum, Md./North County) shined once again, allowing just two runs off of five hits while striking out six batters in game one.
At the Plate
Jocelyn Pfleiger (Quakertown, Pa./Dock Mennonite Academy) batted 6-7 on the day, including a perfect 4-4 in game one, hitting a home run and totaling three runs.
Hannah Cohen (North Wales, Pa./North Penn High School) went 5-8 across both games, accumulating four RBIs in game one.
Hood 12, Wilson 2
It took an inning for Hood's bats to get going, but they absolutely exploded in the bottom of the second, taking advantage of loaded bases to get two runs off a Gottleib single before Pfleiger put another run across the next at-bat.
After a Cohen knock drove in another run and loaded the bases once again, Wilson was forced to make a pitching change after only 1.1 innings. It would not help them though, as
Mallorie Hetzel (Pasadena, Md./Northeast) smacked a double to score another two runs, followed immediately by a
Kara Heidlauf (Mount Joy, Pa./Donegal High School) double to clear the bases and finish the inning with a massive 8-0 lead for the Blazers.
Pfleiger tacked another run on with a solo shot to center field in the third inning to extend Hood's lead, but Wilson managed to get on the board in the fourth inning to cut the lead and get under the eight-after-five mercy rule. Although the fifth inning was scoreless, the Blazers managed to walk the game off early in the sixth inning as two singles set up a Cohen blast to left field to end the game 12-2 in favor of Hood.
Wilson 7, Hood 4
The script flipped a little in game two, as the Phoenix got on the board right away to the tune of a 3-0 lead, but the Blazers battled back in the second inning to make it a 3-2 ballgame.
Wilson did not like the attempt at the early comeback, as they put up two runs in the third and fourth innings to put Hood in a 7-2 hole.
Although the Blazers managed to get one back in the sixth inning and load the bases, they were unable to get any more runners across before getting their third out.
After holding the Phoenix in the top of the seventh, Hood needed four more runs to try and win or send the game to extras. It started off well, as both Cohen and Hetzel got on base to kick things off, but two quick outs put them down to their last out and needing just a spark. Despite looking like they got that spark when a
Sara Munson (Inwood, W.Va./Musselman) knock got one run across and put the tying run at the plate, Wilson's second baseman managed to corral the next hard-hit ground ball and just tag Munson out to end the
Blazers' comeback bid at 7-4.
For the Opponent
Waverly Moffett finished game two going 2-4 with a home run and two RBIs.
Haiden Brookens hit 2-3 in the first game of the afternoon.
Up Next
Hood travels to Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania for a Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth doubleheader against Messiah Saturday, April 6 at 1 and 3 p.m.
