BOSTON -- The Bates softball team opened the 2022 season Thursday with a pair of losses to the Emerson Lions, dropping the first game 11-4 and falling in game two 6-3. 

The Bobcats (0-2) travel to Florida next week, with their next games set for Monday against Hamline and Carleton. 

Game One: Emerson 11, Bates 4

The Lions used a seven-run fourth inning to pull away and defeat Bates 11-4 in game one of Thursday's doubleheader.

Trailing 1-0, the Bobcats took the lead in the top of the third. With two outs, senior captain Janell Sato (Honolulu, Hawaii) and first-year Maggie Hillwig (Phoneix, Md.) both got hit by pitches. Senior Aleah Pagan (Orinda, Calif.) reached on an error to load the bases and junior Lindsey Kim (Palo Alto, Calif.) singled in Sato, tying the game at one. Senior Eliza McNulty (Cambridge, Mass.) drew a bases loaded walk and Bates had a 2-1 lead.

The Lions answered with three runs in the bottom of the third to go up 4-2. But Bates responded with two runs in the top of the fourth.

Senior captain Emily Samar (New York City) singled to right field to start the frame and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Senior Kennedy Ishii (Honolulu, Hawaii) drew a walk and Bates pulled off a double steal. Then junior Cassidy Musco (Walpole, Mass.) delivered a clutch two-RBI single, tying the game at four.

Senior Danielle Polirer (Bellmore, N.Y.) started the game in the circle for Bates and pitched the first three innings. But in the fourth the Lions got to the Bobcat bullpen and scored seven runs, forcing Polirer back into the game. Upon reentry, she walked a few batters before settling down and getting out of the inning. Polirer ended up tossing six innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits while striking out four.

Calli Pratt (3-0) went the distance for the Lions, giving up four runs on seven hits while striking out 11 Bobcats. 

Kim finished the game 3-3 at the plate with an RBI, a walk, and two stolen bases to pace the Bates offense. Makenzie Killough was 2-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base for Emerson while Ally Lacey went 2-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Claire Overton had a big game as well, going 2-3 with one run scored, a double, a triple and four RBIs.

Game Two: Emerson 6, Bates 3

Two runs in the fifth and two runs in the sixth put the Lions up by five and they held on to beat Bates 6-3 in game two of Thursday's doubleheader.

Down 2-0, the Bobcats got on the board in the top of the fourth. Junior Kama Boswell (Bellevue, Wash.) drew a walk to start the frame. One out later, sophomore Rachel Liazos (Westborough, Mass.) singled and both runners advanced on the play to put Bobcats on second and third with one out. Hillwig grounded out and Boswell scored on the play. Unfortunately for Bates, after Boswell scored Liazos was tagged out back at third after taking too wide of a turn, ending the inning.

Hillwig (0-2) pitched a complete game in game two, allowing six runs on eight hits. Walks were a problem as she issued nine free passes while striking out three.

With the game close at 2-1, the Lions scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. With runners at second and third and two away, a wild pitch plated a run. Then Overton singled in another to put Emerson up 4-1.

The Lions loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth and Pratt singled home two more for the home team.

Down 6-1, the Bobcats rallied in the top of the seventh.

First-year Sarah Cooke (Wenham, Mass.) singled to start the frame and stole second. Liazos drew a walk and Hillwig singled home Cooke. Samar pinch ran for Hillwig and stole second. Then junior Katherine Merisotis (Coventry, Conn.) delivered a sacrifice fly to make the score 6-3. But Emerson starter Jessica Gomez (4-1) got the next two batters to strike out, ending the game.

The Lions improved to 7-2 with the pair of wins over Bates. The Bobcats only tallied three hits in game two and struck out 10 times as a team.