BOCA RATON, Fla.—Despite out-hitting the Eckerd College Tritons and amassing a miracle bottom of the seventh comeback in game two in Saturday's doubleheader, Lynn University's softball team fell in both games in Sunshine State Conference action with a 7-3 loss in game one and a 6-4 loss in a 10-inning game two.
Kaci Vassallo collected five hits on the day for Lynn (2-36, 1-12) and posted a .667 on base percentage while Lauren Garceau added four hits, a home run and three RBIs. Bianca Savulak and Christina Carvatta both tallied three hits each in the doubleheader.
In game one, Callie Darlin took the circle for the Blue & White and gave up one run off one hit in the first inning.
In a 1-0 hole in the bottom of the first, the heavens opened and forced a 45 minute delay. After the delay, Carvatta started the Fighting Knights' half of the first with a single to right center field then moved to second on a Savulak sacrifice bunt. Vassallo then rocketed a shot to center field and scored Carvatta after Eckerd's center fielder mishandled the ball to tie the game at 1-1.
Both teams posted a scoreless second inning then the Tritons put one on the board in the third from a Lynn error to make it a 2-1 game in favor of Eckerd.
In the bottom of the fourth, Anne Marie Van Casteren ripped a leadoff double down the left field line. The Tritons collected two quick outs before Savulak doubled to right center to score Van Casteren and tie it up once again. Lauren Garceau then posted another two-out RBI with a single to left center, scoring Savulak and giving the Knights a 3-2 tilt.
Eckerd tied the game in the top of the fifth then rallied for four runs off six hits in the seventh to pull away with the 7-3 win.
Darlin pitched 6.2 innings as Missy Montgomery registered the final out of the seventh. Going into the seventh, Darlin had only given up two Eckerd hits and only one earned run.
In game one, Vassallo went 3-for-4, Van Casteren went 2-for-3, Carvatta and Garceau went 2-for-4 and Savulak went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Lynn almost doubled the Tritons in the hit column in game one with 13 to Eckerd's seven.
In game two, Lynn fell behind big early as Eckerd put two runs on the board in the first and two more in the third to end Montgomery's day in the circle as one of her shortest outings of the season.
Kasey Murray came in to relieve Montgomery and kept the fighting Knights in the game by tossing six scoreless innings.
With their backs against the wall, down by four in the bottom of the seventh, Montgomery started off the frame reaching base on an error then Marianne Johnson lifted her first career home run over the left field fence to cut the deficit down to two.
With the bases empty and one out, Carvatta grounded out the pitcher to put the Fighting Knights down to their final out.
Savulak stepped up to the plate down by two with two outs and belted a ground rule double over the left center field to bring Garceau up as the tying run.
In the first pitch of her at bat, Garceau jacked a no -doubter to dead center field to tie the game at 4-4 and send it into extra innings.
With the two Lynn bombs in the seventh, the Knights doubled their season total of home runs in just one inning.
Both teams tallied a scoreless eighth and ninth and in the tenth, Eckerd manufactured two runs off two hits, two walk and two stolen bases.
Vying for a second miraculous comeback in the bottom of the tenth, Vassallo singled to right field with one out then moved to second on a Murray walk. Darlin flied out to deep left center with Vassallo tagging up and moving to third.
With the tying run on first, Montgomery grounded into a fielder's choice to end the Lynn comeback hopes.
Murray tossed seven innings, giving up just three hits while striking out a career-high eight batters. Two of Murray's five walks came in the tenth frame.
Garceau and Vassallo both tallied a multiple hit game with Garceau and Johnson each collecting two RBIs. Lynn amassed eight hits to the Triton's nine.
The Fighting Knights take on Nova Southeastern in the final home series of the season on Friday, April 13, starting 3:30 p.m. Fans can listen to the action live at LynnFightingKnights.com by clicking on the Game Central icon.
