CLERMONT, FL – The College of Saint Rose softball team bounced back from a one-run defeat less than 24 hours ago by earning a 10-8 victory over East Stroudsburg University this afternoon. In the process, first-year head coach
Ali Meacham chalked up her first career win as the Golden Knights' mentor. Later in the day, Saint Rose suffered a 9-8 setback to Post University.
Freshman left fielder
Olivia Reeves and sophomore catcher
Rachel Reed each went 2-for-5 at the plate to pace the Golden Knights (1-3) against East Stroudsburg (5-5). Reeves finished with a double and a triple, while Reed scored twice and drove in a run of her own.
Saint Rose overcame an 8-3 deficit by plating seven runs in the final three innings to stage an exciting comeback. The Golden Knights still trailed 8-7 going into the top of the seventh, but freshman center fielder
Amber Loussedes piloted the aforementioned rally. Loussedes advanced to second after reaching on an error, stole third and then knotted things 8-8 via an RBI single by sophomore second baseman
Michelle Schroll.
Saint Rose did not stop there. Reeves belted an RBI double that plated Schroll and then closed out the scoring for the Golden Knights by touching home when junior shortstop
Kayla Kuilema grounded out to second.
Senior right-hander
Nicole Traylor put the finishing touches on a stellar performance out of the bullpen. Traylor retired the side in the bottom of the seventh and wound up surrendering just one run while fanning three batters in 5.0 innings of relief.
In today's second game against Post (1-5), freshman lefty
Mikayla Wells recorded four strikeouts and did not allow a walk over the distance for Saint Rose. Wells surrendered just three earned runs after the Golden Knights were credited with eight errors in the contest.
Reeves and Reed again did most of the damage at the plate. Reeves wound up 2-for-3 with three runs and a like number of RBI on the strength of a double and a home run. Reed finished 1-for-3 with a two-run blast of her own.
Saint Rose will have a day off tomorrow before taking on a pair of NAIA opponents on Thursday. The Golden Knights are scheduled to meet the University of St. Francis (IL) at 1:30 pm, before taking on Bellevue University (NE) at 3:30 pm.
Box Score - East Stroudsburg;
Box Score - Post
