MIDDLETOWN, CT- Softball walks it off in game one 7-6, before falling to Coast Guard in game #2 11-2 in five innings. The Cardinals and Bears competed in a thriller Tuesday afternoon in game one of two at The Softball Field. Coast Guard had been in control for most of the game, sporting a 6-1 lead heading into the 7^th and final inning, before the Cardinals offense came to life. Wesleyan produced six runs on seven hits to complete the improbable comeback against the Bears. The walk-off hit was recorded by Krissy Gately '24, who singled home two runs to give the Cardinals the win. In game two, Coast Guard would not let their early lead disappear again. The Bears completed the shortened game with an 11-2 victory over the Cardinals to force a split of the doubleheader. With the split, the two teams both remain at .500. Wesleyan moves to 7-7, while Coast Guard is now 5-5 on the young season.
 
HIGHLIGHTS (Game #1 7-6 Win)

• The two teams traded a run to start the game, keeping the game tied 1-1 going into the 2^nd. Coast Guard scored their run on three hits, leaving two runners on to end their half of the inning. Wesleyan only had one hit in the first, but it was a big one. Isabella Secaira-Cotto '25 doubled over the left fielder's head to drive home their first run of the contest
• The Bears responded with two more runs of their own in the 2^nd inning. They manufactured a two-out rally, that included three straight singles to take back their lead at 3-1
• Selena Serna hit a big 2-run double in the top of the 4^th that really started to open the game up. Her extra-base hit was followed by a sacrifice fly to extend the Bears' lead to five
• The Wesleyan offense woke up in the 7^th inning, recording six runs on seven hits to complete the comeback. After two singles to lead of the inning, Courtney Collins-Pisano '22 delivered a two-run double to right center to cut the lead to three. Secaira-Cotto then came through with an RBI single, later advancing to second to set up Krissy Gately with the winning run in scoring position. Gately worked the count, then drove a ball to left field that drove in the winning run from 2nd base

NOTES:

• Wesleyan had seven of their 12 total hits come in the 7^th inning
• Krissy Gately (1-for-3, 2 RBI) came through with the walk-off hit
• Collins-Pisano (2-for-3, 2 RBI) and Secaira-Cotto (2-for-4, 2 RBI) had multi-RBI games

HIGHLIGHTS (Game #2 11-2 Loss)

• Coast Guard struck first again in game #2, scoring three runs in the 2^nd inning to get out to an early lead. The Bears managed three runs on four hits, but it could have been worse if not for a nifty 1-2-3 double play on a ball hit back to the pitcher to end the inning
• The Bears offense stayed hot in the 3^rd inning, forcing a Wesleyan pitching change mid-inning. Coast Guard still added another three runs on three hits, but stranded the bases loaded to keep the game from getting out of hand early at 6-0
• Collins-Pisano (triple) and Kendall Mancuso '22 (single) recorded back-to-back RBI hits to trim into the Bears lead in the bottom of the third, but Coast Guard quickly answered. They scored three more runs in the next half inning to extend the lead to seven
• Coast Guard drove in two more runs in the top of the 5^th to go up by eight runs, forcing Wesleyan to score two runs in the bottom half to extend the game. Wesleyan managed two hits and a walk to load the bases with two outs, but the Bears closed the door with a strikeout to secure their 11-2 victory

NOTES:

• Collins-Pisano (2-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI) has had 4 multi-hit performances in her last five games, contributing a run in each of her last four contests
• Sophia Sciarappa '22 (2-for-3) has had at least one hit in each of her last six games
• Coast Guard outhit Wesleyan 12-5

UP NEXT:
Wesleyan will welcome the #8 ranked Eastern Connecticut State Warriors to Middletown, CT Friday where they will face off in a doubleheader at 3pm and then 5pm.