SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - American International College softball co-captain Alexis Jimenez threw a 10-inning complete game and hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the third extra frame as AIC split with Southern New Hampshire University in Northeast-10 Conference play, with a 3-2 win and 8-3 loss on Monday, April 24.
It was the home finale for the Yellow Jackets, who moved to 7-34 overall and 3-17 in the NE10.
AIC opened the scoring in the third inning of the first game as Victoria Andrade hit a one-out double off the wall in left; the ball hit the line delineating fair and foul, barely staying in fair territory. That inch was the difference, however, and Kodi Gora followed up with a base hit through the shortstop, scoring Andrade from second to give the Yellow Jackets a 1-0 lead.
In the sixth, Southern New Hampshire tied the game. A one-out walk allowed Abby Lineman to smack an RBI double, although Jimenez was able to induce a popout to keep the game tied. The Penmen pushed a runner to third in the seventh, but Jimenez again ended the threat, and ultimately the game went beyond regulation.
Both teams put runners on in extras, but the defenses were able to hold, as both teams left players at third in the ninth. In the 10th frame, the international tiebreaker went into effect, and the Penmen executed to bring her home with a sacrifice bunt and a flyout to center field. AIC needed to counter, and with Lily Acampora shifted in from the flex spot to run at second base, Destiny McGrath bunted her over. Julia Krijgsman then hit a flyout to right that Acampora was able to use to get home, dodging the tag at the dish to tie the game.
With two outs and the bases empty, it seemed like the teams would need to go to an 11th frame, but Abigail Wells hammered a double to left-center to send Jimenez to the plate. The star pitcher drilled an 0-1 pitch to center, and the speedy Wells came around to score, ending the game in favor of AIC.
In game two, the Penmen jumped to a 1-0 lead, but AIC was able to use a McGrath walk and hits by Leah Twyman and Mackenzie Berman to tie the game; a chance to take the lead was foiled by an excellent catch in left center that turned what would have been a two-run double into an inning-ending double play.
The teams then traded runs in the fourth, with the Penmen striking for three before AIC put two on the board as Gora walked and Brianna Harzula singled to put two on. Samantha Sanchez hit into a forceout and was lifted for Acampora to pinch-run, and McGrath singled to score Harzula and move the senior to third; she came in on a flyout by Twyman.
Unfortunately for AIC, the Penmen scored a pair in the fifth and again in the sixth; at the end of the sixth, the game was halted due to darkness.
In her win, Jimenez went the distance, the longest outing of her collegiate career by innings. She scattered nine hits and two walks across the 10 innings, with one strikeout.
AIC will finish the season on a four-game road trip at Saint Michael's College and Franklin Pierce University, beginning with the Purple Knights on Friday, April 28 at 3:00 p.m.
