CLERMONT, Fla. – Clark University Softball (5-3) entered day four in Clermont with matchups against Chatham (1-6) and Johnson & Wales (RI) (3-5). The Cougars offense exploded in the opening game, with a grand slam by senior Felicia Salvati ending the game after five at 10-0. Unfortunately the offense would be silenced in game two, as strong pitching from Johnson & Wales (RI) prevailed in a 4-0 win for the Wildcats.
(Game One) How it Happened
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The Cougars struck first, as junior Megan Dube doubled to move sophomore Avery Dillon to third, and sophomore Merry Griffin followed with a single to bring Dillon home for the game's opening run.
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Clark then loaded the bases when senior Madison Dillon drew a walk. Senior Felicia Salvati cleared them with a double, scoring Dube, Dillon, and Griffin to give the Cougars a 4-0 lead.
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Clark added another run in the second. Senior Emelie Spence led off with a single, stole second, and advanced to third on a flyout before scoring on an RBI groundout by Avery Dillon to make it 5-0.
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After a scoreless third, Dillon recorded another RBI in the fourth, lining a double to left-center to plate junior Charlise Quigley and extend the advantage to six.
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Junior Hannah Wagstaff continued her strong performance in the circle, keeping Chatham off the board in the top of the fifth to set up a potential walk-off opportunity.
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Clark loaded the bases once again with a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and an error. Salvati came to the plate with the bases full for the second time in the game, and this time she ended it by launching a walk-off grand slam over the fence to score senior Sydney Lyons, Griffin, and Madison Dillon, to secure a 10-0 victory in five innings.
(Game One) Inside the Box Score
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The Cougars recorded nine hits including four for extra bases, also stealing two bases in the effort.
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Salvati had a game to remember, with seven RBI off her homerun in the fifth and double in the first. It's the most by a Cougar dating back to 2011.
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Wagstaff picked up a win in her season debut in the circle, pitching five scoreless innings while allowing just three hits.
(Game Two) How it Happened
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After a scoreless first inning, the Wildcats struck first in the bottom of the second, winning a ten-pitch at-bat with a solo home run to make it 1-0.
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Clark would threaten in the third with sophomore Gricelda Castro singling and advancing all the way to third, but Johnson & Wales (RI) was able to escape the jam and retain its lead.
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The Wildcats would add to their lead in the fourth, with three straight hits to start the inning leading to another run and extending their advantage to 2-0.
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Sophomore Merry Griffin would lead off the fifth with a double, advancing as far as third base before three straight outs ended the inning with the score still 2-0.
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The Wildcats would double their lead in the sixth, using an error and a single to get runners on base. They advanced into scoring position off a sacrifice bunt before both were driven home on a two-RBI double to make it 4-0. That score would hold after a 1-2-3 top of the seventh as Johnson & Wales (RI) secured a 4-0 win.
(Game Two) Inside the Box Score
What's Next
The Scarlet and White close out their Florida trip with games at Legends Field with Elizabethtown at 12:15 and Carnegie Mellon at 2:30.
