Story by Mitch Blankespoor

CLERMONT, Fla. – On the final day of its spring trip, the Kalamazoo College softball team fell to Lawrence University (Wis.) 5-1 but rebounded to defeat Thomas College (Me.) 4-1 to finish the trip 5-5 overall.

In the victory over Thomas, Kalamazoo used two pitchers who combined to give up just one run. Sophomore Victoria Najacht pitched the first three innings surrendering three hits and walking five. Junior Taylor Clements gave up three hits while striking out three over the final four innings to earn the win.

Offensively, the Hornets scored two runs in the first inning on RBI singles from freshman Kennedy Boulton and junior Maddy Sinkovich. Kalamazoo added two more runs in the third when junior Abby Anderson drove a ball over the fence for K's first home run of the season.

Sinkovich and sophomore Dana Page finished with two hits each. As a team, Kalamazoo totaled eight hits while Thomas had six.

In Kalamazoo's loss to Lawence, the Hornets fell behind in the first inning when Amanda Jaskolski hits a two-run shot off of freshman Erin DuRoss.

Trailing 3-0, Kalamazoo scored one run in the bottom of the second on an RBI groundout by sophomore Megan Malish.

The Hornets would get multiple runners on base in the fourth and sixth inning. Unfortunately for K, the threats ended in a groundout in the fourth and a flyout in the sixth.

DuRoss took the loss for Kalamazoo dipping her record to 3-2 on the season. Najacht came in to pitch the final three innings.

Boulton and junior Querubin Dubois each totaled two hits in the loss. Freshman Dayla Dziadzio was the other Hornet to reach base via a single.

Kalamazoo, now 5-5 on the year, begins Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play April 3 against the two-time champions Trine University. The double header is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. in Angola, Ind.