BARTOW, Fla. - The Lynn University softball team battled through a pair of competitive matchups Monday afternoon at The Spring Games, falling to (RV) Glenville State, 6-2, before dropping a 1-0 walk-off decision to Southwest Minnesota State at the Bartow Complex. The Fighting Knights produced several strong offensive efforts and received solid pitching performances in both contests but were unable to overcome early deficits in the opener and a late run in the nightcap.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED ((RV) Glenville State):
- Glenville State struck first in the opening inning as a walk and a single set up a two-run double to left center, giving the Pioneers an early 2-0 lead
- The visitors added another run in the second inning after a leadoff double eventually came around to score, pushing the advantage to 3-0
- Lynn responded in the bottom of the second when Marina Goins doubled to start the inning and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Allie Morgan to cut the deficit to 3-1
- Glenville State extended the lead to 4-1 in the fourth inning, taking advantage of two Lynn defensive errors that allowed an unearned run to cross the plate
- The Fighting Knights answered in the bottom half as Kaela Santiago reached and later scored on an RBI single from Ariana Rego to make it a 4-2 game
- The Pioneers added insurance in the fifth with an RBI double to right center, stretching the lead to 5-2
- Glenville State tacked on another run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly to push the margin to 6-2
- Lynn threatened in the sixth with back-to-back singles from Cara Willis and Quinn McFadden, but the Pioneers escaped the inning before closing out the game in the seventh
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS (Glenville State):
- Ellis led Lynn at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles
- Rego also recorded a multi-hit performance, finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI and adding a stolen base
- Goins accounted for Lynn's only extra-base hit with a double and scored one of the Fighting Knights' two runs
- Morgan drove in Lynn's first run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning
- Santiago reached base twice with a single and a walk and later scored in the fourth inning
- Willis reached safely twice, recording a single and a sacrifice bunt to help move runners into scoring position
- Lynn finished the game with eight hits and three walks, placing runners on base in six of the seven innings
- In the circle, Kayley Zazzali tossed 5.1 innings of relief, allowing three runs (two earned) while striking out one
 

---

 
HOW IT HAPPENED (SMSU):
- Both teams were locked in a pitchers' duel early as neither side was able to push a run across through the first four innings
- Lynn's best early chance came in the first when Kyleigh Hope singled, but the Fighting Knights were unable to bring her around
- Southwest Minnesota State threatened in the opening frame with a double down the right-field line, but the Lynn defense stranded the runner to keep the game scoreless
- The Fighting Knights put another runner aboard in the fifth when Savannah Ellis singled to center, and Cara Willis advanced the runner with a sacrifice bunt, but the Mustangs escaped the inning to maintain the 0-0 deadlock
- Southwest Minnesota State created a scoring opportunity in the sixth with two singles, but Lynn cut down the lead runner at third to end the inning and preserve the tie
- Lynn continued to apply pressure in the seventh as Ellis recorded her second single of the game, but the Fighting Knights again left a runner on base
- In the bottom of the seventh, the Mustangs opened the inning with a single and moved the runner into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. A groundout to third brought home the game's only run, lifting Southwest Minnesota State to a 1-0 walk-off victory
 
FIGHTING KNIGHT STATS (SMSU):
- Hope led Lynn offensively with a 2-for-3 performance, accounting for half of the Fighting Knights' hits
- Ellis added a 2-for-3 day at the plate, giving Lynn its only other multi-hit effort
- The Fighting Knights were limited to four hits total but recorded base runners in four different innings
- Willis laid down a sacrifice bunt to move a runner into scoring position during Lynn's fifth-inning scoring opportunity
- In the circle, Savannah Ellis delivered a strong outing, tossing 6.2 innings while allowing just one run (unearned) and one walk
- Ellis induced 13 ground-ball outs and kept the Mustangs off the scoreboard through the first six innings
 
UP NEXT:
Lynn concludes its run at The Spring Games on Tuesday when it takes on Saint Martin's (10 am) and Edinboro (3 pm).