Washington Downs Carroll, 5-1; Rockford, 5-4

FORT MYERS, FL -- The Washington College softball team won a pair of games in Fort Myers, FL, today to finish 5-1 in their season-opening stay in the Sunshine State. The Shorewomen opened the day with a 5-1 win over Carroll and then defeated Rockford, 5-4.

Against Carroll, the Shorewomen took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second with three RBI doubles - one each from sophomore center fielder Leigh Carbutt (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley), sophomore shortstop Margaret Rohde (Highland Lakes, NJ/Academy of Home Education), and sophomore third baseman Sally Snover (Charlotte, NC/Myers Park). The Shorewomen added their fourth run in the fourth inning when freshman catcher Laura Wagoner (Phoenixville, PA/Agnes Irwin School) scored on a squeeze bunt by Carbutt. The Shorewomen added their final run in the fifth when freshman first baseman Shaelan Nottingham (Ocean City, MD/Stephen Decatur) hit a single and an ensuing Carroll error on the play plated Rohde. Nicki Leden homered with one out in the top of the seventh inning to provide the Pioneers with their only run.

Sophomore pitcher Meaghan Kimme (Lumberton, NJ/Holy Cross) threw a complete game three-hitter against Carroll, walking no batters and striking out three.

In the Rockford game, Carbutt put the Shorewomen on top with a lead-off home run in the bottom of the first. Rockford evened the score when Aletha Cunningham led off the top of the second inning with a round-tripper of her own. The Shorewomen regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the third. Junior designated player Becca Nicely (Baltimore, MD/Institute of Notre Dame) led off the frame with a double, moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt by Carbutt, and scored on a squeeze bunt by sophomore left fielder Jordan Tryhubenko (Cockeysville, MD/Dulaney), who reached on an error on the play. Three batters later, freshman shortstop Lindsey Glascock (Glenwood, MD/Glenelg) doubled to drive in Tryhubenko.

The Regents rallied in the top o the fourth, loading the bases with no outs to set up an RBI single by Liz Harris. Harris then scored on a fielder's choice to even the score at 3-3. The Shorewomen retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman pitcher Brittany Walter (Forest Hill, MD/C. Milton Wright) led off with a single and scored from second base on a play that began with a bunt single by Tryhubenko and also included a pair of Rockford throwing errors. The Shorewomen tacked on their fifth run when Carbutt scored on an RBI single by Snover with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Rockford mounted another rally in the top of the seventh as Katy Atkerson hit a one-out RBI double to pull the Regents within one at 5-4, but Walter struck out the next two batters to end the game.

Tryhubenko went 2-for-3 with a sacrifice hit, an RBI, and a run scored for the Shorewomen. Walter was also 2-for-3 and scored a run. Carbutt was 1-for-3 with the home run, a sacrifice hit, two runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base. Walter went the distance to get the win, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out seven. Cunningham was the only Regent with multiple hits, going 2-for-3.

The Shorewomen return to action Friday with a 10:00 a.m. game against Allegheny and a 2:00 p.m. game against Virginia Wesleyan at the Sea Gull Invitational in Salisbury, MD.