KISSIMMEE, Fla. (March 10, 2021) - St. Thomas University (STU) Softball swept a doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon from the Fortune Road Complex on the opening day of the PFX Spring Games. STU defeated the University of Northwestern Ohio 4-1 in the first game of the doubleheader and beat Bellevue University (NE.) 4-2 in the second game.

Game One vs. UNOH

Bobcat Starters

• Kaitlin Spalding - Right Field
• Sophia Negron - Left Field
• Daniela Bautista - Shortstop
• Taylor Pottorff - Designated Player
• Lishanty Guillermo - Catcher
• Sarah Deschenne - Third Base
• Eliza Artiles - Second Base
• Nicole Hauck - Center Field
• Rachel Samaniego - First Base
• Abbigail Smith - Pitcher

Game Notes

• After Smith opened the game by sending the Racers down in order, STU got on the board first, with a three-run bottom of the first inning.
• An infield single by Pottorff scored Spalding, which was followed by a sacrifice bunt from Guillermo to put the STU lead at 2-0.
• Deschenne capped off the three-run inning with an RBI groundout to third base.
• Smith held UNOH out of the hit column for the first three innings and worked out of a jam in the fourth inning to preserve the 3-0 lead.
• UNOH led off the top of the fifth inning with a solo home run, putting the score at 3-1.
• STU scored an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Bautista brought in Samaniego.
• Smith finished the complete game with a 1-2-3 top of the seventh inning, earning her third win of the season. 

MVBobcats

• Abbigail Smith: (3-1), CG, four strikeouts

Game Two vs. Bellevue

Bobcat Starters

Kaitlin Spalding - Right Field

Sophia Negron - Left Field

Daniela Bautista - Shortstop

Taylor Pottoff - Designated Player

Erica Winter - Pitcher

Sarah Deschenne - Third Base

Rachel Samaniego - First Base

Eliza Artiles - Second Base

Kylie Casanova - Catcher

Nicole Hauck - Center Field

Game Notes

• Winter set the Bruins down in order in the bottom of the first inning.
• STU got on the scoreboard early in the second game of the doubleheader, plating three in top of the second inning.
• An RBI single from Spalding scored Samaniego, putting the score at 1-0.
• Bautista capped the inning with a two-run double down the left field line, scoring Spalding and Casanova.
• Bellevue responded with two runs in the bottom half of the second inning, putting the score at 3-2.
• A lead-off double from Samaniego, followed by a walk by Casanova and a single by Spalding, loaded the bases for Negron.
• Negron brought in Samaniego to extend the Bobcats lead to 4-2.
• Winter held the Bruins off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game, earning her second win of the campaign.

MVBobcats

• Daniela Bautista: 2-4, two RBI
• Rachel Samaniego: 2-4, two runs
• Erica Winter: (2-2), CG, three strikeouts.

Upcoming

St. Thomas continues to play in the PFX Games on Thursday, March 11, taking on William-Penn University and Dordt College, beginning at 1:30 p.m. from the Fortune Road Athletic Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. 

-STU-