The softball team came back from the Florida International Tournament winless, losing two games to Florida International University and three to the University of North Florida.
In the team’s opening tournament last season, Dartmouth went 3-2 and generated 23 runs. This year, Dartmouth only scored nine runs in its five games.
The Big Green has played an early season tournament in Florida for the past nine years as a way to gear up for the Ivy League season while escaping Hanover for some sunnier climes.
“A Florida trip like this is a great opportunity to get outdoors and play the game before we hit the Ivy League,” head coach Rachel Hanson said.
With 12 underclassmen on the 17-person roster, the team has some great potential, pitcher Kristen Rumley ’15 said.
Dartmouth fell to FIU (12-3) 3-1 in its season opener on Friday. A two-run home run in the fourth inning by junior Krystal Garcia with two outs made the difference.
Earlier in the game, Garcia scored on a wild pitch by Rumley, who would allow just four hits and three walks all game. Rumley’s counterpart, Mariah Dawson, picked up the win after pitching five innings, allowing three hits and one run over five innings. Shelby Graves earned the save, pitching six strikeouts to end the game.
Kelsey Miller ’16 put Dartmouth on the board in the top of the fifth, nailing a double to left center that plated Alyssa Jorgensen ’17. The offense could not continue its comeback, however, as two players grounded out, halting the threat of additional runs.
A walk-off home run on a full count by freshman Ashia Kerr gave North Florida (13-3) a 4-3 win in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader.
Morgan McCalmon ’16 relieved Rumley for the afternoon game and pitched six full innings, allowing four runs and eight hits over six-plus innings. Kerr led off the seventh inning with the walk-off.
The Big Green got off to a hot start in the first, scoring twice in the opening half inning. Katie McEachern ’16 doubled down the left field line, scoring Miller. A hit from Maddie Damore ’17 to shortstop which scored Karen Chaw ’17 followed. McEachern was stranded at third when Rumley grounded out.
The Ospreys responded in the bottom of the first when junior Abby Tewey pounded a two-run double to left. The next inning, North Florida took the lead when Kerr singled, allowing senior Danica Mandarano to score.
Miller scored again in the fourth on a double by Damore to tie the game. The contest remained knotted at three until Kerr ended the game in the seventh with the walk-off home run.
Dartmouth faced its second double-header on Saturday and was again swept, this time losing 6-2 to FIU and 5-0 to North Florida.
The lack of offense again doomed Dartmouth. The Big Green could only manage eight hits over their two games on Saturday. The team surrendered 18.
While FIU led 5-0 after three innings, Chaw nailed her first collegiate home run, a two-run shot in the fourth inning.
“Everything about this weekend was really exciting,” Chaw said. “It’s really nice to play outside after being inside for a really long time. It’s a nice change from the Hanover cold.”
Chaw’s home run was Dartmouth’s only offensive highlight on Saturday. FIU would score once more on a double to push its lead to 6-2.
Ashley Sissel ’17 struggled in her collegiate debut, allowing three runs over two-thirds of an inning. McCalmon entered in relief and pitched through the fifth inning, allowing two runs. Alex Jarvis ’16 closed out the game with two scoreless innings.
Rumley resumed pitching duties for the second Saturday game, giving up just one hit until the fourth inning. North Florida batters would add one run in three consecutive innings before Thomas hit a two-run homer to finish out the game.
The Big Green finished the tournament with a 5-3 loss against North Florida on Sunday.
Dartmouth took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first due to a Chaw single that plated Jorgensen. North Florida responded in the bottom of the inning, however, tying the game at one.
Rumley continued to pitch for Dartmouth, squaring off against junior Kayla Goff in a pitcher’s duel. However, Rumley lost control in the fourth and fifth innings, allowing North Florida’s offense to break open the game with two runs. Rumley was pulled entering the sixth, allowing McCalmon and Jarvis to finish the game, splitting time on the mound. The Ospreys added two more in the sixth to push its lead to 5-1.
The Big Green’s offense returned in the seventh, but it was too late for a comeback. Chloe Madill ’17 scored on a sacrifice fly by Brianna Lohmann ’16 to cut the lead to three. Miller brought in Kara Curosh ’14, reducing the deficit to two. Senior pitcher Courtney Radke then stymied Dartmouth’s comeback bid with two strikeouts.
The Big Green will take another five-game road trip next weekend.
Dartmouth will also participate in the University of California at Santa Barbara Tournament and the Loyola Marymount Tournament over spring break. Dartmouth’s first home game will be March 25 against University of Massachusetts at Lowell at 4 p.m.
