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Opel a Gem, but Two Innings Sink Monmouth Softballers in Florida

Monmouth, IL (03/12/2020) — Mar. 12 - softball at Clermont, Fla. - Monmouth College vs. Univ. of Dubuque, Emmanuel College

MC 3
UD 4 (8)
Box Score https://monmouthscots.com/sports/softball/stats/2020/university-of-dubuque/boxscore/5751

EC 8
MC 4
Box Score https://monmouthscots.com/sports/softball/stats/2020/emmanuel-college/boxscore/5752

Just two innings in two games Thursday in Clermont, Fla., was all that stood between the Scots and victory. A 4-3 extra inning loss to the University of Dubuque was followed by an 8-4 loss to Emmanuel College after the Saints got the upper hand with a four-run fifth.

Monmouth climbed out of a 3-0 hole in the day's opener with Dubuque. The Scots used team ball for a pair of runs in the fourth when Jessica Pauley drew a leadoff walk and was lifted for pinch runner Katie Droste. Droste moved to third on Alison Trettin's double to right center and raced home on Laura Dulee's sac fly. Trettin was then plated by Alexis Opel's two out single - her first of four hits on the day - to pull the Scots to 3-2.

The Scots knotted the score 3-3 in the top of the seventh after leadoff hitter Abby Tucker delivered a one-out double down the left field line and moved to third on a ground out. A two-out base knock off the bat of Pauley brought Tucker home to roost, knotting the score. Reliever Cassidy Abbott held the Spartans at bay in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game into extras. The Scots stranded the lead run at third in their half of the eighth, leaving the door open for Dubuque. UD cashed in on the chance, using a sac bunt and sac fly to score the winning run.

It was a 2-2 deadlock after four of the late game with Emmanuel. The Saints got a pair of extra bases in their half of the inning to inch out to a 2-0 lead. Monmouth countered quickly when Dulee led off the bottom of the frame with a triple and came home on Opel's final hit of the day. Opel knotted the game, sprinting to the plate on Sarah LaHood's two-out single to center. Emmanuel took charge in the fifth, sending eight batters to the plate and scoring four times with three hits and two walks for a 6-2 lead. Monmouth scored solo runs in the fifth and sixth to close within two at 6-4. After the Saints tacked on two more in the top of the seventh, the Scot put their first two on, but Emmanuel snuffed out the rally.

Monmouth wraps up their Florida trip with a pair of Friday morning games in Clermont. They'll open the day with Wisconsin Lutheran and end the trip with Westminster (Pa.).