ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Westminster College softball team traveled to Orlando, Florida, to compete in "The Spring Games."
The Blue Jays played six games total over four days, defeating Knox College 9-1 in the final game of the trip.
Westminster played four regionally ranked teams. On Thursday, the Blue Jays fell 9-1 to Endicott College and 8-3 to Amherst College.
On Saturday, Westminster lost 11-1 to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and 7-0 to Carleton College.
The Blue Jays lost 7-0 to Tufts University and then defeated Knox College 9-1 in the final game to end the tournament on a high note, heading into the start of conference season next weekend.
Westminster moved to 4-18 on the season.
Westminster vs. Endicott
- The Blue Jays took an early 1-0 lead after scoring off a Kelsey Logan single to left field with runners on the corners in the top of the second.
- Westminster could not capitalize on its scoring opportunities, leaving five runners on base.
- Endicott put up six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and scored again in the bottom of the fifth inning to win the game 9-1.
Inside the box score
Logan: 1-2, one RBI.
Payton Dudenhoeffer: 1-2.
Madelynn Kordik: 0-1, one walk.
Westminster vs. Amherst
- Amherst started the game swinging, putting up five runs in the top of the first inning.
- The Blue Jays chipped away at the lead, scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth after a single from Emily Esquivel scored Kendall Weber. Westminster plated two more runs in the bottom of the seventh after a triple by Lakyn Breesawitz scored Logan and Esquivel.
- The rally wasn't enough, as Amherst won the game 8-3.
Inside the box score:
Esquivel: 4-4, one run and one RBI.
Breesawitz: 1-4, one triple and two RBI.
Weber: 1-2, one run and one walk.
Westminster vs. UW-River Falls
- The Falcons scored 11 runs on 13 hits as they jumped on the Blue Jays pitching staff.
- The Blue Jays loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth to keep the game alive. They scored a run after Dudenhoeffer hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Esquivel.
- Westminster could not score more runs, leaving two runners stranded. The game ended with a final score of 11-1.
Inside the box score:
Esquivel: 1-2, one run, one walk and one stolen base.
Dudenhoeffer: 0-2, one RBI.
Breesawitz: 1-3.
Westminster vs. Carleton
- The Knights held the Blue Jays' offense to two hits, scoring seven runs on 13 hits and winning 7-0.
- The Blue Jays threatened in the top of the fourth after Kordik reached on a lead-off hit by pitch. Logan followed suit with a walk to put runners on second and first with no outs. Westminster recorded three straight outs, leaving runners on first and second after a fielder's choice got Kordik out at third.
Inside the box score:
Felicity Kirby: 1-2.
Haylee Chandler: 1-3, one double.
Logan: 0-2, one walk.
Westminster vs. Tufts
- It was a pitcher's duel, with both starters going for nine innings.
- The Blue Jays battled against the No. 1 ranked team in Region 1. Westminster threatened to take an early lead, getting a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the second and third innings, but didn't drive them in.
- The Jumbos scored four runs in the top of the third. They went on to win the game 7-0.
- Haley Miller pitched a complete game, striking out two batters and giving up seven runs on eight hits, most of which came later. Miller was on point early in the game, shutting down one of the best teams in the country.
Inside the box score:
Logan: 1-2, one walk.
Chandler: 1-2.
Raigan McKee: 1-3.
Westminster vs. Knox
- The Blue Jays rode the confidence built up from the Tufts game into the final game of their Florida trip against Knox College.
- The Blue Jays went down 1-0 early after Knox scored a run in the bottom of the first.
- Westminster's bats came to life in the top of the second and third, scoring three runs in the second and five in the third to take an 8-1 lead.
- The Blue Jays loaded the bases at the top of the second after McKee drew a walk, Mia Tuner singled and a pitch hit Weber. Maddie Marrero drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in their first run of the game. Turner scored on a wild pitch as Weber and Marrero moved to second and third. Esquivel singled to drive in Weber to put Westminster on top 3-1.
- Eva Gannon singled in the top of the third to keep the Jays' bats rolling. McKee followed her with a single of her own. Turner reached on an error to score Gannon and put runners on the corners for Weber. After Turner stole second base, Weber singled to drive in McKee. Marrero got a base hit to score Turner.
- The rally continued as Marrero stole second base, putting runners on second and third for Esquivel. She walked to load the bases. A wild pitch scored Weber and moved the runners up. Logan hit an RBI groundout to first to score Marrero. The Blue Jays were on top 8-1 when the dust settled on the inning.
- Westminster scored its final run in the top of the fourth inning on a bases-loaded walk by Esquivel.
- The Blue Jays closed the game out and picked up their fourth win of the season, winning 9-1.
Inside the box score:
Esquivel: 1-2, two RBI, two walks and a stolen base.
Turner: 1-3, one stolen base, two runs and one RBI.
Marrero: 1-1, two walks, two RBI and one run.
The Blue Jays will look to ride momentum into the conference. After spring break, they will be back in action when they travel to Columbus, Mississippi, to take on the Mississippi University for Women to start SLIAC play at noon next Saturday.