March 7 – CLERMONT, Fla. – The Bison softball team dropped a pair of contests to open their 2015 season on their annual spring break trip to Clermont, Fla. The Green & White fell 12-6 to the University of Rochester, before dropping a 9-1 decision to Case Western Reserve University.
In the season-opening contest, Bethany found themselves down 2-0 after the top of the first inning. However, the Bison responded with a run in the bottom of the first. Senior Jessica Kuznierz (New Castle, Pa./Shenango) reached first after getting hit by a pitch. She was then pushed to second on a sacrifice hit by Kayla Kelly (Pasadena, Md./Institute of Notre Dame). Junior Emili Garretson (Winfield, W. Va./Winfield) then drove in the first run of the 2015 campaign, knocking in Kusnierz with a RBI double, cutting the Yellow Jacket lead to 2-1.
The University of Rochester extended the lead to 6-2 over the next two innings, attacking for two runs in both the top of the second and third innings. Kusnierz scored her second run of the game on a fielding error to give the Bison their second run.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Bethany would pull back into a tie, striking for four runs in the frame. After two quick outs, the Bison began to mount their offensive. Senior Kelsey Bish (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) got the rally started with a walk, and was moved to second on an infield single by TJ Solomon (Beltsville, Md./Elizabeth Seton). Kusnierz then walked the bases full before two runners scored on a fielding error by the Yellow Jacket third baseman. Garretson then plated two more runs with a single to right field, scoring Kayla Kelly and Kusnierz to tie the game at 6-6.
The rest of the contest would not go the Bison's way, however, as the Green & White were outscored 6-0 over the final three innings, falling by a score of 12-6.
In game one, Garretson led the way, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a single, a double and three RBI. Deanna Mihalco (Patterson, N.Y./Brewster) reached base three times in the game, while Kusnierz scored half of the teams runs, crossing the plate three times.
In game two, the Bison dropped a 9-1 decision to Case Western Reserve University. Bethany's lone run of the game came in the top of the fourth inning when freshman Cassie Weiss (Avella, Pa./McGuffey) knocked in her first collegiate run, plating freshman Jasmine Fuqua (Washington, Pa./Trinity).
Bethany totaled three hits in the contest which included a double from Garretson and singles by both Weiss and Ashlee Brill (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster).
Bethany will be back in action on Sunday, March 8 when they continue their spring break trip in Clermont, Fla. The Green & White first take on the U.S. Coast Guard Academy at 9 a.m. before crossing paths with New England College at 1 p.m.
