Although the winning streak came to an end, the Clarkson University Softball team can head north with an outstanding 11-5 record after defeating Fredonia 5-0 and falling to Westfield State 4-1.
Clarkson extended its winning streak to 11 games, all of them in Florida, when the Golden Knights knocked off Fredonia in their first game of the day. Clarkson jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Rae Dunn led the game off with a double to center field and then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Sara Armstrong. The next batter, Jamie Bridge, knocked a single to right field that allowed Dunn to jog home and open the scoring.
It was not until the fifth inning that either team scored another run. Summer Lancette was hit by a pitch to get Clarkson's first runner on base and then moved to second base on a Dunn ground out. An Armstrong single and a Bridge walk loaded the bases for the Green and Gold, allowing Chelsea Elliott to step up and rip a double to left center that scored two runs. Liz Caggiano followed with a single to score Bridge and then Elliott scored on a single by Ali Schwenzfeier.
That was more than enough offense for Bridge who pitched all seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits to go with 11 strikeouts. Dunn, Caggiano, and Schwenzfeier all had a pair of hits with Elliott driving in two runs.
In the second game of the day, Clarkson fell behind and for the first time all week was not able to dig out of a hole. Westfield State took a 2-0 lead with a run in both the second and third innings. Clarkson halved the deficit in the top of the fifth inning. Erica Jensen singled to open the inning and then pinch runner Caitlin Foley moved to third base on two consecutive sacrifice bunts. The gambit paid off when Dunn hit a deep double to center field, sending Foley across the plate with a Clarkson run.
Clarkson threatened to tie the game or even take the lead in the top of the sixth inning. Bridge doubled and then moved to third on a Caggiano single. After pinch runner Maggie Stark stole second base, Clarkson had second and third with one out, but could not send the tying run home.
Westfield took advantage by scoring two runs in its half of the seventh to open up a three run cushion. That lead proved to be too much for Clarkson to overcome as a double play ended the game.
