CLERMONT, Fla. - The Edinboro softball team began the 2019 campaign at The Spring Games on Saturday, splitting competition at Hancock Complex 5 in Clermont, Fla. Edinboro fell to Wheeling Jesuit, 8-2, in the first game of the season, before a 9-6 triumph over Felician. The Fighting Scots return to action on Sunday, March 3 against Minnesota State Mankato.

Game 1: Wheeling Jesuit 8, Edinboro 2

After a 40-minute delay, Edinboro's 2019 campaign was officially underway. Wheeling Jesuit scored a run in the second and fourth innings, respectively, for a 2-0 lead. Brittany Allen trimmed the deficit in half in the bottom of the fourth, as she went yard for her first home run of the campaign.

The Cardinals, who hit four home runs in the game, went deep for the second time in the top of the seventh.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Scots quickly relieved a batter. However, Wheeling Jesuit would connect on their next three at-bats, eventually having a runner cross home plate for a 4-1 advantage.

Edinboro was put in a tough situation when WJU's Courtney Rodgers hit a grand slam, as the Fighting Scots were down, 8-1. Victoria Allocco's sacrifice fly in the seventh pushed across Cheyenne Bothun, cutting the deficit to 8-2, but that's as close they got the rest of the way.

Amanda Metz (0-1) was in the circle for the majority of the contest. She allowed eight runs on seven hits while striking out a career-high seven batters in 6 1/3 innings pitched. Wheeling Jesuit's Kelsey Barron went the distance, improving to 1-1 on the year. She pitched a complete game, giving up two runs on four hits while committing two errors.

Game 2: Edinboro 9, Felician 6

Edinboro fought back from an early 3-0 deficit to capture their first win of the season. With two outs in the top of the first, Felician's Steph Donah drilled a three-run homer for the early advantage.

Edinboro's offense came alive in the bottom of the second, as they knotted the contest at 3-3. Senior Cheyenne Bothun hit her first career home run to center field, thus cutting the deficit to two. Victoria Allocco scored the next run in the inning. The third baseman was pushed across home plate by Lauren Gierlak's sacrifice fly to right field. Roni Lipinski scored the tying run, as Danna Heh's bunt single brought her home.

The Golden Eagles broke the tie in the top of the third on Karen Davis' two-run dinger. But the Fighting Scots took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth. Allocco and Bothun both scored on an error, while Lipinski tallied her second run of the afternoon on a passed ball.

Brittany Allen hit two doubles in the contest, each resulting in an RBI. Her first double sent Heh home from second base. Allen's second double of the game pushed across Shannon Gilbert for an 8-6 lead in the sixth.

Four players had two-or-more hits for Edinboro. Allen led the way, going 3-of-4 for a run, two doubles, and two RBIs. Bothun also had a pair of runs and RBIs, connecting on 2-of-4 at-bats. Allocco went 2-of-3 for two runs with a steal. Lipinski contributed two runs, and Heh had a run, an RBI, and led the team with two steals.

Carley Nasca took the win, improving to 1-0 on the year. In 5 1/3 innings pitched, she gave up six runs on five hits, to go with three walks and two strikeouts. The save went to Amanda Metz, who struck out two of the five batters she faced over the final 1 2/3 innings.