Panthers Drop Final Two Games in Florida

Taylor Gardner hit safely in both games on Wednesday.

The Middlebury softball team closed out its spring trip on Wednesday, dropping a pair of 2-0 decisions. The Panthers (6-4) opened with loss against 10th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, before capping the trip with a 2-0 setback against Loras. Middlebury returns to the Northeast for a road doubleheader at Norwich on Friday, starting at 3:00 p.m.

The game with UW-Whitewater (6-5) was scoreless through the first five innings, with the Panthers threating in the second. Liza Tarr hit a one-out double, but Warhawk pitcher Julia Camardo retired the next two batters to get out of the jam.

UW-Whitewater broke the tie in the top of the sixth inning with two runs, starting with an RBI single by Mattie Klingenmeyer. Klingenmeyer later scored on a triple by Camardo for a 2-0 advantage.

The Panthers attempted to rally in the bottom of the seventh with a single by Tarr, followed by a two-out double by Kaylee Gumm, putting runners on second and third. With the potential tying run at second, Camardo recorded the final out for the 2-0 final.

Tarr went 2-3 at the plate with a double for Middlebury, while Gumm also doubled. Irene Margiotta pitched five scoreless innings to start the game for the Panthers, scattering three hits. Emily Morris (2-2) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on four hits over the final two innings.

Camardo remained unbeaten on the season, improving to 4-0 with a five-hit shutout and 10 strikeouts. Megan Schweitzer picked up a pair of hits for the Warhawks.

In the second game of the day, Middlebury had a chance to strike first with a run in the top of the first. Olivia Bravo reached on an infield single and eventually made her way to third base with two outs. Following a walk to Taylor Gardner and a wild pitch put two runners in scoring position, Duhawk pitcher Emily Reilly recorded the third out.

Loras (10-8) countered in its initial at bat with a run, as Ashley Lentine and Shannon Coyle started the inning with back-to-back doubles to right center.

In the fifth inning, Loras seemed poised to build on its lead, but a key double play ended the threat. The Duhawks had the bases loaded and one out, but a squeeze-bunt attempt failed, as Morris caught the pop up and quickly threw to Bravo covering the bag at third to get out of the inning.

Loras did tack on an insurance run in the sixth when Melanie Gerbig singled home Bria Lenen for a 2-0 advantage.

Reilly retired the Panthers in order in the top of the seventh, finishing the game with a three-hit shutout with three strikeouts.

Mandell, Gardner and Ali Della Volpe each had hits for Middlebury, while Morris was steady in the circle with a complete game. She gave up two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.