DeLand, Fla. - The Stetson softball team suffered its first two losses of the season on Friday to open the Hatter Classic, falling 1-0 to Mount St. Mary's (1-1) and 7-2 to Bethune-Cookman (2-8) at Patricia Wilson Field. Freshman pitcher Courtney Brandt (Dade City, Fla.) hit her team-leading third home run of the season for the Hatters, who are now 6-2 on the year.
MOUNT ST. MARY'S 1, STETSON 0
Sophomore pitcher Meredith Owen (Jackson, Miss.) did an excellent job in a complete game effort, allowing just one run on six hits with no walks and striking out six batters. However, the Mountaineers were able to string three hits together in the top of the third with left fielder Chloe Mizianty knocking in the game's only run on an RBI single up the middle.
Mount St. Mary's pitcher Nicole Pagano did the rest, tossing a one-hit shutout with just one walk and five strikeouts to even her team's record on the day and the season. Brandt's single to center field in the fourth was the only offense Stetson could muster. Designated player Alyssa Silipino went three for three at the dish for The Mount.
BETHUNE-COOKMAN 7, STETSON 2
A scoreless pitcher's duel through the first four innings was finally ended when B-CU right fielder Michelle Banuelos-Smith hit a solo home run into the left field bleachers with one out in the bottom of the fourth. Brandt helped her own cause with a two-out, two-run home run to center off Wildcats relief pitcher Shanel Tolbert in the top of the fifth (Stetson played as the visiting team) to give the Hatters a 2-1 advantage.
Bethune-Cookman struck back hard with six runs in the bottom of the fifth to seal the game in its favor. Kelsey Rodney and Cesley Tafoya delivered back-to-back RBI to put B-CU up 3-2; after a bases-loaded wild pitch, Shamaria Engram smacked a three-run, bases-clearing triple for the 7-2 final margin.
Tolbert earned the win in relief while Brandt struck out four in her first loss of 2012. Sophomore center fielder Chrissy Morello (Ormond Beach, Fla.) collected two base hits for the Hatters.
In other action Friday at the Hatter Classic, St. Bonaventure run-ruled Mount St. Mary's 9-0 in five innings and also shut down Bethune-Cookman 3-0.
The Hatters take on St. Bonaventure at 4:00 pm and Mount St. Mary's at 6:30 pm as the Hatter Classic continues tomorrow at Patricia Wilson Field. Live Stats and Hatter Vision are available at GoHatters.com.
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