FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Clark University softball team split its doubleheader on Thursday morning, defeating Finlandia for the second time this spring break via a 10-2 decision before coming back against undefeated Kenyon before a walk-off hit gave the Ladies a 4-3 final to close out the day at the CenturyLink Sports Complex.

The Basics

Score: Cougars 10, Lions 2 (Game One) | Ladies 4, Cougars 3

Records: Clark University (4-4) | Finlandia (1-10) | Kenyon (7-0)

How it Happened

Cougars 10, Lions 2 – Game One

First-year Olivia Capobianco (North Attleboro, Mass.) showed off her wheels in the first game going 5-for-5 on stolen base attempts while picking up two hits, three runs, and one RBI during game one. Senior Christina Kopacz (North Grosvenordale, Conn.) added to the ten-hit showing from her team, finishing 3-for-4 at the dish while Samantha Restrepo-Stier (Davie, Fla.) was 2-for-3 at the dish. 

Junior right-hander Isabella DiOrio (Lincoln, R.I.) was solid in the circle once again, tossing the full six innings while striking out a pair and allowing just two earned runs on seven hits. At the plate, she rounded out the multi-hit performers with her 2-for-3 game with one RBI.

Clark grabbed an early 1-0 lead as Capobianco ripped a single to lead-off before swiping second for her first theft of the contest. After moving to third on a wild pitch, the first-year touched the plate on a grounder from Francesca Cirone (Franklin Square, N.Y.).

After a run from Finlandia in the top of the third knotted the score, the Cougars offense began to build momentum, plating three runs in the bottom of the inning to snatch the lead. A grounder from Cirone again brought in Capobianco for the first run before a two-out RBI single from DiOrio capped off the frame for a 4-1 lead.

Finlandia halved the deficit in the top of the fourth with a double from Makenna Gorham, but Clark stood locked in the home-half of the frame. Capobianco started it with a single before swiping second and third base. Later, the first-year bolted for the plate while the catcher was throwing back to the pitcher to steal home. The play lit a fire as the Cougars pushed across two more with two outs in the inning with Restrepo-Stier plating a pair on a two-run double.

In the sixth Clark earned the mercy victory as Kopacz singled to put runners on the corners before getting to second on a stolen base. One batter later, Restrepo-Stier delivered, ripping a two-run single to right field for the 10-2 triumph.

Ladies 4, Cougars 3 – Game Two

Junior Alexis Redish (Howell, N.J.) tossed a strong 6.2 innings in the circle, scattering 11 hits and allowing just four earned runs against the undefeated Ladies. Offensively, Capobianco and junior Kelsey Joyce (Leominster, Mass.) contributed the two hits for the Cougars offense, picking up a single and a triple respectively while each scoring a run. Capobianco added an RBI and stolen base in the contest.

Clark worked four walks at the plate with Jessica Martin (Winthrop, Mass.) earning the free pass twice while Kopacz and Kaylee Gibson (Northfield, Mass.) each earning on base on balls.

Kenyon pushed the first runs across the plate in the bottom of the third as Bella Albrecht notched a lead-off single to get the inning going. With one down and runners on the corners, Sara Campagna delivered an RBI single before Grace Finn came around to score on an RBI single from Emily Buckwalter.  

The Ladies increased the advantage in the fourth with Maddie Hyland finding a hole in the infield to pick up a single. Redish recorded two straight ground outs, but Hyland moved up a base on each occasion. With two outs in the frame, Kenyon's Albrecht brought her home with a single down the right-field line to make it a 3-0 lead.

Clark broke up the shutout in the top of the fifth inning with walks to Martin and Kopacz putting a pair on with no outs. An error at third base allowed the Cougars to push across their first run, with pinch-runner Alessia Mauro (Woodbury, Conn.) scampering in for the 3-1 deficit.

The team wasn't finished as Clark knotted the score in the top of the sixth inning, breaking up the no-hit bid in the process as Joyce ripped a lead-off triple to right centerfield. Capobianco followed up with an RBI bunt single before swiping second base to move into scoring position herself. With one out in the sixth, a grounder from Cirone allowed the speedy Capobianco to come into score with the tying run.

Redish came on for a strong bottom of the sixth, setting down the side in order on three balls that stood in the infield. In the seventh, Kenyon pulled out the walk-off, doing the damage with two outs in the inning with a pair of singles before Buckwalter came through with the game-winning swing, singling home Finn for the 4-3 final.

Up Next

The Cougars return to action on Friday, March 6 with a doubleheader coming against SUNY Delhi and Lehman College at 9:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M. respectively.