Fort Myers, FL-  The Owls softball team split on their final day of their spring trip and earned their first win on the season defeating Nazareth 11-10 and falling to Central College 14-0.

Game 1 (11-10- UMPI)

How it happened: The Owls started the game out with a promising 3 runs in the first inning and Nazareth answered back with 2 in the first. Continuing to keep the bats alive the Owls scored 4 more runs in the next two innings extending the lead to 7-2. Nazareth found themselves in a big inning in the fourth as they came back to grab the lead at 7-8. In the top of the sixth inning Savannah Rodriguez (Presque Isle, ME) singled up the middle, scoring Dalaney Anfinson (Green Cove Springs, FL). Rodriguez also advanced to score on a throwing error putting the owls ahead 10-8. Nazareth answered back, tying up the game at 10. Going into the final inning, Jordan Hansen (Phillips, NE) hit the go ahead solo shot homerun. Solid pitching and defense sealed the deal in the bottom of the seventh to allow the Owls to grab their first win of the season. 

On the mound: Olivia Riitano (Abbot, ME) earned the start on the mound, throwing three innings, allowing nine hits and eight runs. Hansen came in to throw the final four innings, picking up the win, allowing two hits and two runs. 

At the plate: Emma McNally (Patten, ME) and Anfinson both had four hits on the day. 

Game 2 (14-0 Central College)

How it happened:  Errors and struggling to string together hits in their second game of the day, the Owls fell to Central College. Central started out with a big first inning grabbing a quick nine runs. The Owls ' defense tightened up as they held Central to four five runs in the next three innings. 

On the mound: Olivia Riitano threw the complete five innings allowing sixteen hits while facing thirty three batters. 

At the plate: Dalaney Anfinson (Green Cove Springs, FL) and Jordan Hansen (Phillips, NE) each had one hit on the day.