WINTER HAVEN, Florida - The American International College softball team lost its first four matchups of the 2026 season, falling 12-5 to the University of Sioux Falls and 4-1 to Northwood University on Saturday, March 7 and then 10-2 in six innings to Grand Valley State University and 7-5 in eight innings to Lynn University on Sunday, March 8.

The Cougars pounced right away, scoring eight times in the bottom of the first, but AIC was able to respond with a pair of runs in the second. Morgan Bemont led the line with a walk, followed by hits by Lauryn Ramalho and Jilien Ayala. Macey Burns then bounced out to second, but earned her first collegiate RBI as Bemont scored. Isabel Kahli Robinson then singled to left, plating Ramalho.

Sioux Falls responded with three runs in the second to lead 11-2. Burns kept her offensive output up with her first collegiate hit in the fourth, and Brooklyn Cividanes launched a solo shot to left in the fifth for her first home run of the season. Two batters later, Mikayla Doucette walked and was lifted for Brianna Salazar to pinch run. She scored on a double by Ramalho, who scored on a fielding miscue at short. 

Burns tacked on another hit in that frame, and Doucette notched her first hit in an AIC uniform in the seventh, but ultimately the 12-5 result was the final score.

Against Northwood, AIC fell behind 4-0 in the first two frames before notching its lone run in the bottom half of the second on a fielding error; Ramalho did collect a hit and two walks, while Bemont had two hits in the setback. Gabrielle Lambert took the loss but did an admirable job in the circle, allowing just six hits across five innings.

AIC took its first lead of the season right away against Grand Valley State, with Nevaeh Trejo working a walk and taking second on a wild pitch before Julia Krijgsman doubled her home with a right-center gap shot. However, the Lakers responded with two of their own in the bottom half. 

Cividanes tied the game in the third with another solo shot, and while AIC was able to get out of a jam in the third, the Lakers scored twice in the fourth and added another in the fifth. They erupted for five in the sixth, activating the run rule in the 10-2 win. 

Against Lynn, AIC fell behind in the first on an unearned run, but rallied for three in the home half. Trejo singled and took second on a passed ball, and then Krijgsman walked. Bemont then drove Trejo home with a single, and after an error by the Fighting Knights, Ayala made them pay with a two-run double.

Lynn just as quickly struck back in the second, taking advantage of errors as well as two walks, a double, and a single to score four times and take a 5-3 lead.

In the third, Cividanes led off with a double and Krijgsman singled to put runners at the corner. Bemont laid down a bunt, but the Fighting Knights were able to put Cividanes out. Krijgsman took third on the play, however, and Marilyn Augusta drove her in with a groundout for her first collegiate RBI. Ayala then singled to left, but Bemont was cut down at the dish, leaving AIC still down a run.

In the fifth, AIC's seniors came through. Krijgsman hit a flare just out of the reach of the second baseman, and was moved over on a sacrifice bunt and a groundout. Ayala then bounced a pitch back up the middle, just out of the reach of the defense, tying the contest with the RBI single.

The Fighting Knights had a chance with a leadoff double in the sixth, but a sacrifice bunt went awry in the worst way and eded up as a double play. Neither team scored in the seventh, but the Knights were able to push two runs across in the eighth and held on for the win. 

Ayala led AIC with six hits, while Cividanes and Bemont each had five and Krijgsman and Ramalho each posted four. 

AIC will play four more games in Florida, beginning Tuesday, March 10 against Clarion University at 10:00 a.m. and at 12:30 p.m. against Edinboro University.