Shorewomen Fall to Muhlenberg, 2-1, and McDaniel, 2-1, in Eight Innings

ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- The Washington College softball team's 2014 season came to an end this afternoon with a pair of losses on the first day of the double-elimination Centennial Conference Tournament today in Allentown, Pa. Washington fell to top-seeded host Muhlenberg, 2-1, in its first game and then dropped an elimination game to McDaniel, 2-1, in eight innings. The Shorewomen, who won the 2013 tournament to claim their first-ever conference title, finish their season 26-13-1. 

In Washington's first game of the day, Muhlenberg took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Kelly Kline scored on a two-out single by Taylor Trifiolis. The Mules added a run in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by Trifiolis that drove in Alexis Giovinazzo. 

Washington finally got on the board in the top of the sixth inning when junior pitcher Kristin Cooper (Georgetown, Del./Sussex Central) doubled in senior first baseman Lauren Dockrill (San Diego, Calif./Cathedral Catholic) with one out. The Shorewomen got the potential tying run aboard in the top of the seventh on a single by freshman third baseman Caitlyn Kirby (Glen Burnie, Md./Glen Burnie), but Kelsey Jones got sophomore outfielder Paige Briganti (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) to line into a double play and sophomore outfielder Clare Hofstedt (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) grounded out to end the game. 

Trifiolis accounted for two of the Mules' three hits in the game. Jones got the win for Muhlenberg, allowing one unearned run on seven hits and no walks, while striking out three batters.

Junior shortstop Suzanne Patinella (Fallston, Md./Maryvale Prep) went 2-for-3 in the loss for the Shorewomen. Cooper pitched the first five innings, allowing two runs on four walks and two hits, while striking out five batters. 

The Shorewomen's second game, against McDaniel, remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when Jaclyn Liebowitz scored on a two-out single to center field by Caitlin Justice. Washington broke up a potential no-hitter by McDaniel's Caroline Brehm in the top of the seventh inning as Cooper and Dockrill led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Dockrill came around to score the game-tying run when senior designated player Clare Mattox (Arlington, Va./Potomac School) reached on a one-out error. Brehm then struck out the next two Washington batters to limit the damage. Washington sophomore pitcher Sydnee Schorr (Easton, Md./Easton) retired the McDaniel side in order in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. 

Washington senior catcher Kylie Nottingham (Ocean City, Md./Stephen Decatur) reached on a hit by pitch with two outs in the top of the eighth, but Brehm got Dockrill to fly out to left field.  Olivia Kipe won the game for McDaniel when she hit an RBI single to left field with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, plating Megan Moore.

Brehm allowed just one unearned run on two hits and one walk while striking out five batters in the win for the Green Terror. Kipe was the only player in the game for either team with multiple hits, going 2-for-4.