FORT MEYERS, Fla. – La Roche softball dropped a pair of heartbreakers on Wednesday, falling to both Saint Joseph and Westfield State.
GAME ONE: Saint Joseph (Conn.) 10 La Roche 7
The Redhawks wasted no time jumping ahead, as Cassidee Fitterer drove in Ashley Huffman with an RBI single in the bottom of the first to open the scoring.
Garrah Milochik added to the lead in the bottom of the third with an RBI single of her own to score Emma Bizay.
Saint Joseph got its first runs in the top of the fifth, tying the game 2-2 on a La Roche error and RBI double.
The Redhawks would storm back ahead, plating five in the bottom of the fifth, as Milochik drove in her second on another RBI single, followed by a two RBI single from Finley Hohn, a play that a third run crossed on a Blue Jay error, then an RBI groundout by Kynnydy Lewis.
Unfortunately, Saint Joseph's offense began to click late, scoring four runs in the top of the sixth to trim the edge to 7-6, then posted four more runs in the top of the seventh to steal the victory.
Maura Wade suffered the loss, throwing 5.1 innings, allowing nine runs (seven earned), 11 hits, one walk and struck out three.
Hohn and Klover Haberthier combined for 1.2 innings of relief, allowing one unearned run and three hits.
Offensively, the Redhawks ended with 12 hits, as Huffman, Milochik, Hohn and Anastacia Jacobs all had 2-for-4 outings.
GAME TWO: Westfield State 5 La Roche 4
It was another hot start for La Roche, plating all four of its runs in the game in the top half of the first.
Wade opened the scoring with an RBI single, then Lewis followed with a two RBI single and the scoring concluded with Makenzie Formeck's own RBI single.
Westfield State responded with two runs in the bottom of the first to cut the lead in half, then came within one with a run in the bottom of the second.
The Owls would tie the game in the bottom of the fifth inning and then took control of the lead off an RBI single in the sixth inning, closing the scoring.
In game two, Lewis took the circle, and in 4.1 innings of work, allowed four runs (one earned) and one walk.
Haberthier suffered the loss, throwing 1.2 innings of relief, allowing one unearned run and two hits.
Offensively, the Redhawks had eight hits, with Wade's perfect 4-for-4 leading the way.
La Roche concludes play in Florida, tomorrow, Mar. 13 with another early morning doubleheader. The Redhawks first meet Geneva at 9 a.m., followed by a matchup with Rockford at 11 a.m.