Clearwater, Fla. – Lynn University's softball team fell in both games in the final day of the Eckerd College Spring Invitational at the Eddie Moore Complex Sunday afternoon. The Fighting Knights lost to UMASS-Lowell 9-1 before going down 11-3 to Nova Southeastern. LU is now 3-14 overall and 0-3 in the Sunshine State Conference this season.
Brittany Gross and Mandi Brown both went 2-5 in the two games as Brown also recorded a pair of RBIs. Megan Mayfield and Anne Marie Van Casteren recorded a double for their only hits of the day.
In the circle, Darlin pitched ten innings and struck out six as the Fighting Knights recorded eight errors in the two games.
The Fighting Knights got ahead 1-0 against the Riverhawks in the opener. Brittany Gross led off the game with a single and promptly stole second. Katrina Lavadan then sacrificed her over with a bunt before Gross scored as Mandi Brown reached on an error by the shortstop.
Unfortunately that was all Lynn could score as UMASS allowed just two more hits throughout the game. Despite pitching well, Callie Darlin got the loss as the Fighting Knights committed four errors and allowed several runners to advance on throws and held balls.
Lynn also got ahead of the Sharks with a run in the third inning. Gross started the rally with a two-out single to center before Lavadan reached on a fielding error by the pitcher. Brown then delivered with an RBI single to left to score Gross all the way from second.
Nova Southeastern responded with three runs on three hits in their half of the inning but Lynn would tie it up in the fifth. Jordan Angel reached safely to lead off the inning and Megan Mayfield then doubled down the left field line to move Angel to third. A soft ground ball to second by Gross scored Angel from third and with two outs, Brown singled through the left side for her second RBI of the game.
With the score tied, Darlin was replaced in the circle by Kasey Murray who allowed eight runs (five earned) in 1.1 innings of work. Darlin received the no-decision allowing three runs on five hits in four innings.
LU is back on the diamond Tuesday, March 1, when they host Mercyhurst in a 1 pm doubleheader. Fans can follow the action by logging onto www.LynnFightingKnights.com and clicking on "Game Central."
