CLERMONT, Fla. – Regis College opened the 2024 competition season with its first two games as part of The Spring Games, losing to Benedictine, 8-0, and Marian, 4-2, Sunday at Legends Way Field.
In its first game of the day, Regis put two runners on base in the top of the first thanks to a walk by Mya Gaspie (Hooksett, N.H.) and a single from Mel Rees (Middleborough, Mass.). However, Benedictine pitched Bella Lodico induced a flyout and earned a strikeout to keep the Pride runners from scoring.
Benedictine (4-1) scored in the bottom of the first inning on a groundout by Taylor Oppenhuis that scored Morgan Bruno. The Eagles broke the game open in the bottom of the second inning with seven runs, featuring two-run doubles by Lauryn Olson, Bruno, and Ashlyn Rapacz.
In the fifth inning, Lexi Nichols (Granby, Conn.) hit a one-out triple to right field. Bianca Burke (Cambridge, Mass.) hit a line drive, but it was right at second baseman Rapacz, and Lodico closed out the game with her fourth strikeout of the contest.
Marian (2-0) struck first in the second game of the day for both teams as Erin Cowe hit a single with the bases loaded in the top of the second inning that scored two runs. Regis responded in the bottom of the third, first when Madi Zancan (Cumberland, R.I.) drew a leadoff walk and eventually came around to score, and then when Burke laced a triple to the right field fence and scored on a groundout by Grace Motto (Wareham, Mass.).
The Sabres took the lead for good in the sixth inning, starting with a single by Kerena Wood and an RBI double from Kendall Pilner. Pinch runner Riley Mankowski hustled to third base when ball four to Savannah Knuth was in the dirt, and then Knuth drew a throw to second base that allowed Mankowski to score on the play.
Rees went 3-for-3 in the game, including a leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth inning. Pinch runner Jaylene Deslauriers (Taunton, Mass.) eventually advanced to third base, but she could not score. Avery Patles (Derry, N.H.) drew a leadoff walk in the seventh inning, but she was stranded at second base.
Regis College (0-2) returns to action with games Monday, March 4, against Hiram at 12:15 p.m. and Alvernia at 3 p.m. at the Sleepy Hollow Field Complex in Leesburg, Fla.