Softball Drops Final Game of The Snowman Tournament to Abilene Christian

Sunday, March 5

Starkville, Miss.

12:00 PM

Dartmouth College

3-6

Abilene Christian

5-15

Dartmouth

Abilene Christian

Alaana Panu softball action against Columbia

Photo by: Doug Austin

Softball Drops Final Game of The Snowman Tournament to Abilene Christian

3/5/2023 4:02:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Big Green received a two-run homer from Alaana Panu in the loss

By: Francis Forte

STARKVILLE, Miss. — The Dartmouth women's softball team fought until the final at-bat against Abilene Christian in its final contest of The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial Tournament. Despite a strong defensive performance, the Big Green were unable to close out the weekend with a victory, falling to the Wildcats by a score of 3-2.

Sophomore Alaana Panu recorded her first home run of the 2023 season. Rachel McCarroll recorded her fourth complete game of the season in the circle, striking out six batters at Nusz Park. Freshman Ashley Frantz recorded a pair of hits, including a double.

Dartmouth's defensive performance marked its second game of the season without an error. Both teams were sharp in the field, as the Wildcats also avoided an error in Sunday's matchup.

How it happened:
A ground-rule double from Frantz marked Dartmouth's first spark of offense of the day, as the Big Green had a runner in scoring position in the top of the first. Panu set the tone for the game, crushing a two-run shot to left center to give Dartmouth a 2-0 lead with one out recorded.

Mary Beth Cahalan reached first on a single up the middle, and the Big Green placed a pair on base after Kelly Beaupre earned a walk to first. Dartmouth forced a pitching change from Abilene Christian, who escaped the inning as the Big Green left two on base.

Abilene Christian responded in the bottom of the inning, as an RBI single drew the Wildcats within one run of the Big Green. Dartmouth maintained the lead, as ACU left runners stranded on second and third following a strikeout from McCarroll.

After an uneventful second inning from both squads, the Wildcats drew even in the bottom of the third, as an RBI double brought the game to a 2-2 deadlock.

Beaupre opened the fourth with a double and Lauren Ben-Ezra entered the game as a pinch runner. A fielder's choice and a lineout closed the door on Dartmouth's offense, as the game remained tied as the fifth approached.

Dartmouth loaded the bases up with two away in the top of the fifth, as Frantz stood on third, Panu on second and Cahalan on first. Kate Farren was unable to drive in the go-ahead run, as Riley White recorded a strikeout for the Wildcats to escape the jam.

Maddie Katona reached first on a single and was brought to second on a sacrifice bunt from Leila Hennessy. The Big Green were unable to bring Katona in from scoring position, as a pair of groundouts closed the top of the inning.

Abilene Christian placed runners on second and third with just one out on the board in the bottom of the seventh. Mercedes Eichelberger recorded a walk-off single, which brought in the deciding run of the contest.

Dartmouth fell to 3-6 on the year, while Abilene Christian improved to 5-15 in 2023.

Up Next:
The Big Green travel to California for a seven-game slate, starting with a matchup against Santa Clara on March 15. Dartmouth will then take on Pacific in a doubleheader the following day, before a pair of two-game series against Maine and St. Mary's to close out the road trip.