Softball splits final Florida day to end trip at .500

WINTER HAVEN, Florida - A five-run first keyed an offensive outburst by the American International College softball team, which run-ruled the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown 11-1 before falling 7-3 to D'Youville University on Friday, March 15.

AIC is 4-4 overall.

Abigail Wells, Destiny McGrath, and Taylor Murphy all walked to start the game, loading the bases to give the Yellow Jackets a significant opportunity. They took advantage, alternating singles and walks between Kodi Gora, Brooke Cividanes, Julia Krijgsman, and Brianna Harzula, with Lauryn Ramalho also walking to give AIC a 5-0 lead. 

The Mountain Cats loaded the bases with three hits in the first as well, but did less with it; a popout, grounder to second, and flyout to center allowed just one to cross safely.

From there it was all AIC. McGrath led off the second with a single and Murphy smacked a double to push her home. Samantha Sanchez walked and Gora was hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Krijgsman hit a sac fly to make it 7-1. An inning later, Wells walked and McGrath singled before Gora hit a grounder that beat the shortstop to bring both home. Wells and McGrath then both singled in the fifth and were driven in by Sanchez roping a two-run hit for the 11-1 final.

Riley Sullivan won with one run allowed on four hits in 4.1 innings. 

In the finale, D'Youville scored in the first with a runner who reached on an error scoring on a base hit. AIC loaded the bases but could not score in that frame. The Saints then scored three in the second and another run in the third before AIC got on the board, with Wells singling and swiping second before Gora doubled her home. 

The Saints notched a run in the fourth, and AIC added one in the fifth with McGrath knocking a base hit and coming in on a hit by Cividanes. Both teams scored one in the seventh for the 7-3 final.

AIC opens Judy Groff Field at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20 against the College of Staten Island with a doubleheader.