The softball team (10–6) began the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla., with a 6–4 win and then were shut out 6–0 in two consecutive games. But the Bears rallied back to win two of their last three contests.
Brown 6, Manhattan 4
The Bears found themselves trailing 4–1 at the top of the sixth last Thursday in their game against Manhattan College (5–6). But the Bears came alive when they stepped up to the plate that inning and scored five runs, enough to clinch the game.
Pinch hitter Kristie Chin '11 had two RBI. Pitcher Liz DiMascio '13, left fielder Sandra Mastrangelo '12 and shortstop Erika Mueller '13 (also a Herald sports staff writer) each hit singles and had one RBI in the inning.
"Throughout the season, we've proven that we're not a team to go down — that we get up again and again," said first baseman Kate Strobel '12. "One person can't win a game. Everyone contributed that inning. That's how we got it done."
Cleveland State 6, Brown 0
Despite the Bears' fighting spirit, the team was completely shut down later that afternoon by Cleveland State (18–7). Brown only managed to get three hits against the Vikings, who won all eight of their matchups at the Rebel Spring Games.
"There are definitely games where your offense just isn't on," Strobel said. "We weren't making adjustments."
Defensively, the Bears had trouble stopping the Cleveland State runners, who scored six runs on five hits and capitalized on Brown's two errors.
Wisconsin at Green Bay 6, Brown 0
Friday morning against the University of Wisconsin at Green Bay (11–4) proved to be the same as Thursday afternoon, and the Bears were again blanked, 6-0. Green Bay held Brown to just three hits the entire game.
"We just couldn't adjust to the timing" of the pitches, Chin said. "We faced a lot of slow pitchers this weekend. That was the main issue."
In both the shutouts, defensively "we ended up giving away a lot of extra bases," Chin said. "We would end up giving them more than they deserved."
Brown 4, St. Peter's 1
Going into Friday's second game against St. Peter's (1–9), "we were just feeling really frustrated," Strobel said. "We just wanted to come back and win that day."
Chin led the team on the mound, throwing a no-hitter and walking just one batter. Trish Melvin '12 pitched the last two innings in order to "mix up the speed and style" of the pitching and keep St. Peter's on their toes, according to Chin. Melvin pitched solidly, giving up only one run on one hit.
Offensively, Strobel contributed greatly with a home run and two RBI. Mastrangelo and right fielder Alyssa Caplan '13 each had one run and one RBI to clinch the victory.
Marist 3, Brown 2
The Bears were unable to carry their momentum over into Saturday against Marist (3–13).
Though Strobel scored two runs and went 3–3 at the plate with a single, a double and a home run for one RBI, Brown left a runner on base in six of seven innings, preventing the Bears from capitalizing on their scoring chances. Combined with four costly defensive errors, the Bears were unable to come back.
"It's one of those things where the defense wasn't as solid as other times," Strobel said. "But we can't get down on ourselves. We were fighting back."
Brown 8, Fairleigh Dickinson 7 (8 innings)
Errors still plagued the team later that afternoon against Fairleigh Dickinson (5–13). In the top of the third, the Bears committed one error, allowing the Knights to score five runs, making the score 6–3. Brown responded with three runs in the bottom of the third, making it a one-run game.
The Bears found themselves down 7–5 in the bottom of the seventh with two outs. But designated hitter Lauren Kattchee '13 and Melvin both hit singles to keep Brown's hopes alive. Danielle Comissiong '11 pinch ran for Kattchee, and shortstop Katie Rothamel '10 brought both Comissiong and Melvin home on a double, sending the game into extra innings.
The Knights were unable to score in the top of the eighth. Caplan singled in the bottom of the eighth to bring Mastangelo home, allowing the Bears to win, 8–7.
"We fought until the end," Chin said. "And this time, it worked out for us."
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