Dartmouth Splits Second Day of Spring Games in Florida

Saturday, February 25

Madeira Beach, Fla.

11:00 AM

Dartmouth College

3-0

Valparaiso

1-7

Dartmouth

Valparaiso

Rachel McCarroll softball action versus Tennessee

Photo by: Danny Parker

Dartmouth Splits Second Day of Spring Games in Florida

2/25/2023 7:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score (vs. Valparaiso)Box Score (vs. Siena)

The Big Green improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2009 before falling to Siena

By: Francis Forte

MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — The Dartmouth softball team split its second two games in Madeira Beach, Florida on Saturday. The Big Green defeated Valparaiso by a score of 5-2 to open the day before falling short to Siena, 5-3. The Big Green tied their best start in program history with its win over the Beacons.

Game One, Dartmouth 5, Valparaiso 2
The Big Green improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2009 with a strong defensive showing against Valparaiso to open Saturday in Madeira Beach. The pitching duo of Rachel McCarroll and Stella Bale allowed just three hits, while Dartmouth's offense supplied five runs in a 5-2 win.

The first three innings featured strong pitching and defense from both squads, as Dartmouth and Valparaiso combined for just one hit through three frames.

The Beacons put two on base with after drawing a pair of walks in the bottom of the second, but McCarroll slammed the door with a strikeout to close the inning. Both teams went three up, three down in the third as the game remained scoreless.

The Big Green solved Valparaiso's pitcher, Easton Sieb, in the top of the fourth. After a walk to open the inning, Mary Beth Cahalan recorded Dartmouth's first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field, to give Dartmouth the lead.

Alaana Panu moved herself into scoring position, as she stole second after walking to first. A flyout moved the sophomore to third, and a single from Maria Angelino brougth Panu home to extend Dartmouth's lead to three.

Valparaiso responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning, as a throwing error brought a runner home to cut into the Big Green lead. Dartmouth was undeterred, extending its lead back to three in the top of the fifth, as Maddie Katona brought Jenna Brown home on an RBI single.

The Big Green received their second home run of the day in the sixth, as Kate Farren crushed a solo shot to center field to give Dartmouth a 5-1 lead. Stella Bale entered the circle for Dartmouth in the bottom of the sixth, allowing just one unearned run in the final two innings, as Dartmouth cruised to a 5-2 win.

Dartmouth improved to 3-0 with its win over the Beacons, while Valparaiso dropped to 1-7. McCarroll picked up her third win of the year, allowing just two hits and an unearned run in five innings of action.

Game Two, Dartmouth 3, Siena 5
Dartmouth held a two-run lead heading into the top of the seventh against Siena, but fell just short, suffering its first loss of the year. The Big Green were unable to hand the Saints their second defeat of the season, dropping their second game of the day by a score of 5-3.

The Big Green opened the game strong, tacking on two runs in the bottom of the first after a solid defensive top of the frame. Farren brought Leila Hennessy home with an RBI single, before being brought home herself by Ashley Frantz on another single.

After a scoreless second inning, Dartmouth jumped out to a three-run lead in the bottom of the third. Frantz recorded her second RBI of the contest, driving Farren home with a single to right field.

Siena got on the board in the top of the fourth, as a sacrifice fly brought home the Saints' first run of the afternoon. Bale fended off the Saints to close the half inning, but Dartmouth could not respond in the bottom of the frame.

Both squads went three up, three down in both the fifth and sixth innings, as Dartmouth continued to hold a two-run lead as the top of the seventh approached.

The Saints put up four runs in the top of the seventh to pick up their first lead of the game. Siena received an RBI single before a three-run homer to center field put Dartmouth on its heels heading into the bottom of the inning. The Big Green were unable to mount the comeback, leaving one runner on base.

Dartmouth fell to 3-1 on the year, while the Saints moved to 7-1.

Up Next:
Dartmouth closes its stint at the Spring Games tomorrow against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. First pitch is slated for 12:30 p.m. and a live stream will be available on FloSoftball.com