KISSIMMEE, FL – The College of Saint Rose softball team scored twice in its final at-bat to overcome a one-run deficit on the way to a 4-3 victory over Holy Family University at the Rebel Spring Games this morning. It marked the first win of the year for the Golden Knights (1-5), who were also defeated 13-6 by Georgian Court University in game two of a non-league doubleheader.
In the opener, Saint Rose overcame a pair of one-run deficits by scoring twice in the fifth and twice in the seventh to upend the Tigers (3-2). Senior shortstop
Ashley Anderson played a major role in both rallies. Anderson stroked an RBI double in the fifth that brought around sophomore second baseman
Kayla Kuilema to put the Golden Knights on top 2-1. Kuilema had previously reached on an error that forced in junior right fielder
Meg Rios.
Rios, Kuilema and Anderson found themselves in the mix again in the seventh. Rios and Kuilema roped back-to-back singles to set the table for Anderson, who delivered her second double of the game and thus bring around what proved to be the game-winner in Kuilema to get Saint Rose in the win column.
Anderson wound up 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI on the afternoon. Rios was 2-for-4 and scored twice, while Kuilema had two singles to go with two runs. Junior right-hander
Nicole Traylor picked up the win after fanning four and allowing only one base runner over the final 1.2 innings in relief.
In game two, the Lions (6-1) put up 11 runs in their first three at-bats to cruise to their sixth victory in seven outings. Georgian Court, which is receiving votes in the NFCA Division II Poll, exploded for five runs in the second inning thanks to three Saint Rose miscues that put things out of reach.
The Golden Knights tried to whittle its deficit by scoring three times in the fourth and fifth. Sophomore centerfielder
Courtney Galuski, who was chased from the circle after only one-third of an inning to start the game, delivered a two-run double in the fourth after Anderson scored on an error. In the fifth, junior catcher
Nikki Woodard capped off the scoring for Saint Rose with a sacrifice fly to make it an 11-6 ballgame.
The Lions tacked on two more in the sixth and kept the Golden Knights at bay for the final three outs.
Six different players finished with a hit for Saint Rose, including Galuski who went 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI. Rios and Anderson each went 1-for-4 and scored a run.
Georgian Court’s top-three batters in the lineup wound up 5-for-11 with nine runs and six RBI between them. Sophomore second baseman Rachel Ruch did most of the damage behind a 3-for-5 effort, four RBI and three runs. Meanwhile, freshman right-hander Lyndsey PeQueen fanned five over the distance as all six runs by the Golden Knights were unearned.
Saint Rose has a pair of games scheduled for tomorrow afternoon as it continues its week at the Rebel Spring Games. The Golden Knights take on Clarke University (IA) at 1:00 pm before meeting Mount Olive College at 5:00 pm.
Box Score - Holy Family
Box Score - Georgian Court