Clermont, Fla. – The Wentworth softball team earned a hard-fought split in day four of its Spring Break trip to Florida, downing SUNY Potsdam 8-7 while falling in the opener to Alfred, 6-2.  Wentworth moves to 4-4 overall.

Alfred 6, Wentworth 2

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE – GAME ONE LEADERS

• Hits: Briana Beverly (2-3), Deanna DiPilato (1-3), Sabrina Haarstick (1-3), Ceilidh Higgins (1-3)
• RBI: Sabrina Haarstick (1)
• Runs: Kaitlin Pettenger (1), Briana Beverly (1)

IN THE CIRCLE

• Erin Hancock (2-2) - 7.0 innings pitched – 6 strikeouts, 16 hits, 6 earned runs
   

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Saxons were hot at the plate, combining for 16 runs, including a 5-for-5 showing at the plate from Alana Eaton. Eaton hit for extra bases twice in the game with two doubles, while scoring three runs for Alfred in the win.
• The two teams traded a run apiece in their first at-bats, as Wentworth, the home team, matched the 1-1 score after Brianna Beverly (Pawcatuck, Conn.) raced home on a passed ball.
• Alfred added two runs on three hits in the third inning to build a 3-1 lead and never looked back, as A. O'Toole and T Mejia drove in two runs with the bases juiced.
  
   

THE SERIES

• This was the first meeting between the two schools.
  

Wentworth 8, SUNY Potsdam 7

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE – GAME TWO LEADERS

• Hits: Erin Hancock (3-4), Kayla DeMedeiros (2-4), Julia Bollentin (2-4)
• RBI: Briana Beverly (2), Deanna DiPilato (2), Julia Bollentin (2)
• Runs: Kaitlin Pettenger (2), Erin Hancock (2)

IN THE CIRCLE

• Kayla DeMedeiros (2-2) – 6.0 innings pitched – 4 strikeouts, 8 hits, 1 earned run
• Aurora Wilks (Sv, 1) – 1.0 innings pitched – 1 strikeout, 0 hits, 0 earned runs
   

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Leopards built an early lead after Beverly (2), Kayla DeMedeiros (South Dartmouth, Mass.), and Julia Bollentin (South Kingstown, R.I.) drove in four runs to lead 4-0 after two and a half innings. Error trouble plagued Wentworth in the coming frames, as the Bears tied things up 4-4 with all unearned runs after five.
• Kaitlin Pettenger (Flanders, N.J.) drove in the go-ahead run for WIT in the sixth, which ultimately sealed the deal for the Leopards in the end, before Deanna DiPilato (Worcester, Mass.) belted a two-RBI single through the right side for the 7-4 lead.
• Down by not out, the Bears threatened the Leopard advantage, pulling within a single run in the bottom of the sixth, again following a Leopard error.
• Sophomore Aurora Wilks (Fruitport, Mich.) proved to be Wentworth's hero of the game, as she entered the circle in the bottom of the seventh with the Leopards leading 8-7. Wilks retired the first two batters, the first on a strikeout, and sealed the deal with a popout to preserve the Wentworth win, earning the first save of her career.
  
   

THE SERIES

• This was the first meeting between the two teams
   
  

NEXT

• Wentworth will play two final games on Saturday, starting at 9:15 a.m. vs. Penn. St.-Behrend.

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