CLERMONT, FL. — The Williams College softball tream dropped a pair of games Wednesday, falling to Western Connecticut State, 12-4, and then losing the nightcap to Hope College, 8-4.
The Ephs fell to 1-5 overall. They will play Luther and Buffalo State on Thursday at 9 and 11 a.m.
In the loss to Western Connecticut State the Ephs fell behind 4-0 in the first inning and could never catch up. Williams did rally in the fifth, scoring four times to cut the deficit to 9-4, but a three-run bottom of the fifth ended the game due to the eight-run mercy rule.
In the Ephs' fifth, Kaitlin Dinet led off with a double and Amanda Correnti reached on an error. First year Zoe Dillon-Davidson singled to load the bases, and pinch-hitter Ally Ensor lined an RBI-single. Senior captain Ali Hart then lined a three-run single, but was thrown out at second for the first out. With two outs, Merilee Weston — playing in her first game of the season — roped a double, but she was stranded there when Theresa Legan lined out to first base.
All five of the Williams hits came in that frame.
Dinet took the loss, going four innings and allowing six hits and nine runs, only four of which were earned. She walked one and struck out one.
In the nightcap, Williams again fell behind early as Hope scored three times in the first and led 5-0 before the Ephs nicked Hope starter Molly Collins for a run in the bottom of the sixth when Ali Hart led off the frame with her second home run of the season.
It was 8-1 Hope heading into the bottom of the seventh when Williams rallied for three runs. With one out, Ali Graebner was hit by a pitch. Dillon-Davidson singled to center and Legan beat out a single to first to score Graebner. Hart then ripped an RBI-single to center and Weston followed with another RBI-single before the rally ran out of gas.
Dillon-Davidson and Legan were both 2 for 3 for the Ephs, and Hart was 2 for 4 with two RBI. Junior Megan Casey took the loss, doing all seven frames for Williams and allowing 11 hits and eight runs, six of which were earned. She walked only two and struck out an impressive 10 batters.
