ORLANDO, FL - The Golden Flyers lost two close games in the last day of the Spring Games. In the first game against St. Lawrence, Nazareth fell 5-2. In the second game of the day against Middlebury, the Golden Flyers were defeated 5-3.

Over the course of the Spring Games in Orlando, the Golden Flyers accumulated a 3-4 overall record.

Nazareth Defeated 5-2 by St. Lawrence
The first inning was quick on both sides with only eight batters across both teams in the first. Despite on-base opportunities for St. Lawrence in the bottom of the inning, the Golden Flyers were able to get out of the inning without giving up any runs, making the score 0-0 heading into the second.

In the second inning, the Golden Flyers were blanked with a three-up-three-down offensive inning. In the bottom of the inning the Saints were able to get on the board, scoring two runs on three hits to go up 2-0.

Still struggling on offense in the third, the Golden Flyers again only had three batters in the top of the inning. In the bottom of the third, the Golden Flyers gave up two more runs, unearned, allowing the Saints to get into scoring positions on errors. At the end of the third, the Saints were up 4-0.

In the fourth, both teams went three-up-three-down.

In the top of the fifth, the Golden Flyers were finally able to get on base with a double from Caitlyn Knapp. However, Nazareth couldn't quite get Knapp all the way around and they remained scoreless after five innings, while leaving one runner on. In the bottom of the inning, the Golden Flyers gave up another unearned run for the Saints to build the lead to five heading into the sixth.

In the top of the sixth, Nazareth's bats finally woke up. Haleigh Suitor began a run with a double to left field with one out. Morgan Russo then sinlged and advanced Suitor. After another out, Kaijah Alexander singled to center to score both runners to get Nazareth its first runs of the game. After holding the Saints scoreless in the bottom of the inning, Nazareth cut the lead down to three and the score was 5-2 heading into the final inning.

Despite getting one runner on with a walk from Avery Zembek, the Golden Flyers could not put up any more runs and the game ended at a score of 5-2.

Zembek was in the circle for the Golden Flyers and had two strikeouts and two earned runs on 29 batters faced.


Golden Flyers Narrowly Defeated by Middlebury
The start of the game was rough for the Golden Flyers, giving up four runs in the top of the first inning on two hits and three errors. In the bottom of the inning, with two outs, Alexander walked and Knapp singled up the middle, but the two runners could not quite get all the way around the bases and the score remained 4-0 heading into the second.

The second inning was silent for both teams on the scoreboard, despite either side leaving runners on.

In the bottom of the third following a double-play and a fly out in the top, the Golden Flyers were able to put up two runs. Russo started off the rally with a triple right center. Julia Maciag then singled on a bunt that scored Russo and advanced to second when she saw there was no coverage. Alexander then reached on an error while Maciag scored the second run of the inning. Knapp then singled to left field. After a pitching change, the Golden Flyers hit into a double play and grounded out to close the inning at a score of 4-2 in favor of the Panthers.

The score remained the same through the fourth and fifth innings despite the Panthers loading up the bases in the fifth and the Golden Flyers leaving two on.

In the sixth, Middlebury was able to put up another run in the top of the inning while holding Nazareth to a three-up-three-down inning in the bottom to take a 5-2 lead heading into the final inning.

In the seventh, the Golden Flyers held the Panthers scoreless in the top of the inning. In the bottom, Russo started a rally with a double and then got to third on a wild pitch. Following an out, Alexander walked and Knapp had a sac fly to center to score Russo and cut the lead to 5-3 with two outs and one runner on. Unfortunately the Golden Flyers could not close that gap and Nazareth dropped the game by two runs.

Madison Hicks threw the game and was credited with two strikeouts and two earned runs on 34 batters faced.

The Golden Flyers will be back in action on March 28 at 3 p.m. at home against RIT.