TITUSVILLE, Fla. – The University of Jamestown softball team opened their spring break campaign with a split on Sunday, utilizing a massive late-inning comeback to stun Michigan-Dearborn 7-6 before dropping a 7-2 defensive struggle to Walsh University.
Game 1: Jamestown 7, Michigan-Dearborn 6
Facing a two-run deficit and a silencing opposing pitcher through four innings, the University of Jamestown softball team appeared to be headed for a rocky start to their Spring Break trip. However, a fifth-inning spark from the middle of the order ignited a furious comeback, as the Jimmies surged late to secure a 7-6 victory over Michigan-Dearborn on Sunday afternoon.
The Wolverines struck early, tagging Jimmie starter Hope Ransome for two runs in the opening frame. Michigan-Dearborn’s Elizabeth Petrella and Savanna Kane opened the contest with consecutive singles, eventually coming around to score on RBI knocks from Katelyn Postuma and Kaleigh McClellan.
For much of the afternoon, that 2-0 cushion felt insurmountable as Jamestown struggled to find their timing at the plate. The silence was finally broken in the home half of the fifth. After a Trinity Gregg walk, Maddie Spaeth provided the game’s definitive moment, launching a towering two-run home run to left-center to knot the score at 2-2.
The Jimmies didn’t stop there. Following a Madelyn Webb walk and a Natalie Draper single, Amanda Burch and Tori Olson delivered back-to-back RBI singles to push Jamestown ahead 4-2. The lead swelled in the sixth inning when Webb laced a two-run single to right, scoring Kylie Yanzuk and Spaeth to make it a 7-2 ballgame.
The insurance proved vital. Michigan-Dearborn mounted a frantic final-inning charge against the Jimmie bullpen, racking up four runs to pull within one. Maddie Hairgrove eventually induced a groundout from Kendyl Gearhart to strand the tying run on base and preserve the win.
Ransome earned the victory, surrendering just two earned runs over six steady innings. Spaeth finished the day 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a pair of walks to lead the offensive charge.
Game 2: Jamestown 2, Walsh Univeristy 7
The nightcap proved difficult for the Jimmies as defensive miscues early on allowed Walsh to take control. Walsh struck for three runs in the opening frame, all of which were unearned, following a pair of Jimmie errors. The lead grew to 4-0 in the second before Walsh added three more in the third to push the advantage to 7-0.
Jamestown’s offense struggled to find its rhythm against Walsh starter Gauri Naik, who held the Jimmies to just one unearned run through the first six innings. That run came in the third when Trinity Gregg reached on an error and was driven home by a Maddie Spaeth groundout.
The Jimmies continued to fight in the final frame. Gregg launched a triple to left field and was promptly driven in by a Kasydi Bennett double to center, but the rally ended there. Abby Blair took the loss, though only two of the seven runs surrendered were earned. Aubrey Quern provided a bright spot in relief, striking out five and allowing only one hit over 3.1 scoreless innings.
Up Next
The Jimmies (11-4) return to the diamond tomorrow, Monday, March 2, for another two-game slate in Florida:
• vs. Southern New Hampshire University: 9:00 AM CT / 10:00 AM ET
• vs. Roosevelt University: 1:30 PM CT / 2:30 PM ET