CLERMONT, Fla. The American International College softball team split with regional foes Thursday at the National Training Center, downing Wilmington University (Del.), 5-1, but falling to LIU Post, 12-5.
With the split, the Yellow Jackets move to 2-4 in the opening week of play.
Falling down a run in the home half of the second on a Wilmington sacrifice bunt back to AIC junior starter Alyssa Camargo (Covina, Calif.), the Jackets exploded for a five-run fourth inning, their largest run output in an inning this season.
American International freshman Kaley Kempf (Oxford, Conn.) opened the scoring with an RBI double to left, plating senior Jorrdin Miller (Garfield, N.J.). Another rookie, Kayla Riley (Haverhill, Mass.) singled the other way to advance senior Lyndsey Letourneau (Paxton, Mass.) home, the eventual game-winning run. Sophomore first baseman Alexa DiLeo (Cheshire, Conn.) drove one to left field to send Kempf home and open a 3-1 lead.
AIC junior Shannon Millane (Ellington, Conn.) pinch ran for DiLeo and immediately made an impact, stealing second and advanced to third on a Wildcat throwing error. The error also allowed Riley to scamper home from third. With Millane 60-feet away, junior Keymell Cartwright (Johnstown, Ohio) reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop and gave the Jackets their fifth and final run of the inning.
Camargo went seven solid, striking out eight, while allowing one earned off six hits. DiLeo and Kempf notched multi-hit games, each going 2-3 from the plate in the win.
AIC fell in the opener to LIU Post, 12-5. Junior starter Jillian Bedard (Meriden, Conn.) allowed only three earned in 5.1 innings, but the Yellow Jackets committed five errors in the contest.
Down 8-2 entering the sixth inning, AIC crossed three runs to cut the deficit to three. Riley doubled to right center, plating Letourneau. Cartwright reached on another fielder's choice, scoring Riley, while senior Jenna Costa (Turners Falls, Mass.) grounded out to second, but scored a scampering Kempf.
Cartwright (2-3) and Costa (2-4) and Letourneau (2-4) provided six of the team's nine hits.
AIC returns to action Friday, Mar. 11 at 9 a.m. against Molly College and again at 11 a.m. against Mercy College from the National Training Center.