Box Score Clearwater, FL – A low-scoring duel turned into a late-inning slugfest, with the Wagner College softball team falling to Central Michigan, 7-4, on Friday morning at the Eddie C. Moore Complex. In the defeat, the Seahawks fall to 0-5, while the Chippewas improve to 8-6.
 
Wagner jumped on the board first with a first inning run. Junior Kristen Matteoni (Reno, NV, Galena) put the Seahawks ahead when she drove in freshman Brenda Bott (Fountain Valley, CA/ Fountain Valley) on a single for a 1-0 lead. Four Wagner players reached in the first inning on just one hit – Bott made it to first on an error to lead off the frame, junior Taylor Rauscher (Peoria, AZ/ Sunrise Mountain) was hit by a pitch, Matteoni singled, and sophomore Jessica Albarran (Corona, CA/ Eleanor Roosevelt) walked.
 
CMU tied the game in the following half-inning before Wagner jumped back in front in the bottom of the third. With one out, senior Brittany Huss (Anthem, AZ/ Boulder Creek) grounded out, with sophomore Kelsey Parker (Lynnwood, WA/ Lynnwood) crossing the plate for a 2-1 Seahawks lead.
 
The Chippewas would answer in the top of the sixth, plating six runs on five hits to claim a 7-2 advantage. That lead would hold until the bottom of the seventh, as the Seahawks looked to put together a comeback.
 
Senior Carley Nicoletti (Plainville, NY/ CW Baker) and Bott led off with a pair of singles, and were moved over on a ground out by pinch-hitting freshman Megan Moore (Pottstown, PA/ Owen J. Roberts). Parker then drove home Nicoletti on a ground out, moving Bott to third, and the comeback was kept alive when a CMU error brought home Bott, making it 7-4. The Chippewas would then get the final out of the game on a ground out.
 
Senior Judy Betz (Ashburn, VA/ Broad Run) went the first 5 1/3 innings before giving way to sophomore Samantha Bedker (Phoenix, AZ/ Sandra Day O'Connor) for the final 1 2/3, surrendering no runs on one hit.
 
The Seahawks play their second game on Friday at 2:30 pm against Chattanooga at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, FL.