NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Clark University softball team was defeated by Coast Guard Academy on Sunday afternoon as the Bears earned an 11-5 victory in game one before closing out the day with a 10-0 win in the 2021 spring season-opener for both teams. 

The Cougars put up a valiant effort in the opening game of the season starting in the first inning. After Coast Guard scored a pair of runs in the top of the first, Clark struck back for a pair of their own as Samantha Restrepo-Stier (Davies, Fla.) smacked a two-run homer for the first hit of the season for the Cougars.

Clark went onto grab the lead in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI single from Rebecca Mauro (Easton, Conn.) sparking a two-out rally. One batter later, the Cougars took advantage of a defensive miscue, plating Emily Hogue (Kennebunk, Maine) to make it a 4-2 lead. 

After a scoreless third inning, Coast Guard gained control after scoring a combined nine runs in the final four innings in the game, including one homer from Julia Breidenth and two from Mariah Dewey. The Cougars pushed across the final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single from graduate captain Christina Kopacz (North Grosvenordale, Conn.) before ultimately falling in an 11-5 final score.

Coast Guard was able to carry the momentum into game two as the Bears jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the opening two innings. Clark threatened in the bottom of the third as two-out singles from Kaylee Gibson (Northfield, Mass.) and Restrepo-Stier loaded the bases, but the Cougars were unable to plate a run in the frame. 

The Bears scored a run in the fourth and sixth inning to extend the lead before a four-run frame in the top of the seventh gave them 10 runs. Coast Guard's starter Isabelle Shroyer finished the complete-game shutout in the bottom of the frame to give the Bears the series sweep. 

Game Details:

Score: Coast Guard 11, Clark 5 (GM 1)  // Coast Guard 10, Clark 0 (GM 2)

Records: Clark University (0-2) // Coast Guard (2-0)

Location: Nitchman Field (New London, Conn.)

Clark Highlights:

• Restrepo-Stier paced the Cougars offense with a 3-for-4 game at the plate during game one, driving in a pair of runs on the first home run of her career. It also marked the first three-hit game in her career.

• Sophomore Jessica Sardilli (Farmington, Conn.) came on in 1.2 innings of relief during game one marking the longest outing of her career. She finished with two strikeouts and scattered a pair of hits in the appearance. 

• Mauro picked up her first career hit and RBI with a single to left field in the bottom of the second inning during game one. 

Up Next:

Clark looks to host its home-opener on March 27 in a scheduled doubleheader with Wheaton College starting at 12:00 PM. Coast Guard Academy is slated to take on Emerson on March 27 starting at 12:00 PM.