Game One Stats vs. Loyola
Game Two Stats vs. Eastern Kentucky

Orlando, FL – The Wagner softball team dropped its first two contests at the Rebel Spring games in Orlando, FL, today, losing to Loyola, 3-0, and Eastern Kentucky, 8-0, in five innings.

In the first game of the day against Loyola, the Seahawks found themselves down early allowing two runs in the top of the second inning after a Lauren Arceneaux leadoff hit turned into the game's first run on a Wagner infield error. Jacqueline Grim, who was the beneficiary of the Seahawk error, also scored with two outs on a single to right field by Bridget Lally, making the score 2-0 in favor of the Ramblers heading into the bottom of the second.

With two outs, Wagner got its first hit of the day from Alyssa McCulloch (East Brunswick, NJ) who drove a single up the middle past Loyola pitcher Keali Jo Engelkens. The Rambler freshman rebounded off the McCulloch hit by getting Laura Hennig (Dyer, IN) to ground out to the first baseman ending any potential second-inning threat.

The Seahawks would wait until the bottom of the fifth inning before their next hit when Hailey Corthell (Reno, NV) laced a double over the left fielders head with two outs for her first extra base hit of the season. Engelkens worked on her fourth strikeout victim in Vanessa Lenart (Fontana, CA) to end the inning and keep the game at 2-0.

Loyola added one more in the top of the sixth off a Jenna Grim solo blast over the left centerfield wall, extending the Ramblers lead to 3-0 with little time to play.

After getting all three Seahawks to ground out in the bottom of the sixth inning, Wagner had three more outs to muster up a comeback. Engelkens got Brittany Huss (Anthem, AZ) to ground out to third, before walking Amanda Garcia (Fresno, CA) giving the Seahawks some life. But McCulloch and Ashley Rollins (Fairfax, VA) were put down by the Ramblers defense, capping off the 3-0 win.

The loss gave sophomore hurler Judy Betz (Ashburn, VA) her fourth lost of the year, extending the Seahawks losing streak to 0-6, while Loyola improved to 4-4 on the year.

Immediately following the loss to the Ramblers, Wagner readied itself for the day's second matchup against Eastern Kentucky out of the Ohio Valley Conference.

The teams traded defensive stops for the first two innings before the Colonels opened up the scoring in the bottom of the third. A five-hit, two-run, inning meant the Seahawks would have to come from behind for the seventh straight game.

As Noe Esperas continued to shut down the Seahawks offensively, the Colonels bats stayed hot in their next appearance as Eastern tacked on six runs on six hits off Wagner pitchers Rollins and Garcia.

The 8-0 lead was insurmountable for the Green and White as Esperas set down McCulloch, Rollins, and Carley Nicoletti (Plainville, NY) in the top of the fifth to activate the mercy rule, sealing the win for Colonels who move to 11-5 on the season, as the Seahawks continue their skid at 0-7.

Wagner will take to the field tomorrow in another two game set against Lehigh and Holy Cross. The first game is scheduled for a 3:00 pm start.