Despite a late-inning surge and a strong showing at the plate, the Centenary University softball team couldn't complete the comeback in the first game of their conference doubleheader against Gwynedd Mercy, falling 13-10 on Thursday afternoon.
The Cyclones tallied 12 hits in the high-scoring affair, showing plenty of offensive firepower, but ultimately couldn't overcome an early deficit as the Griffins held on for the win. Centenary found themselves playing catch-up throughout, but a big push in the middle innings brought them within striking distance.
Junior standout D'Ani Morales led the offensive charge for Centenary, going 3-for-5 with five RBIs, delivering clutch hits that kept the Cyclones in the game. Morales' timely bats included a multi-run single that narrowed Gwynedd Mercy's lead and silenced the home crowd.
Jessica Burlew, Madison Passanante, and Carolyn Rosenberg each contributed a pair of hits, with Rosenberg also driving in a run and scoring another. Jaelynn Miller and Sierra Kaye each chipped in with two RBIs of their own, helping fuel Centenary's push.
Despite the loss, the Cyclones showed resilience and poise at the plate, a promising sign as they head into game two of the doubleheader looking for a split in the Atlantic East matchup.
Game two is set to begin shortly, and the Cyclones will look to carry their offensive momentum forward as they aim to even the series and stay in the playoff hunt.
Stay tuned for updates from game two.
