CLERMONT, Fla. -- The 2024 softball season has finally arrived as Bates College kicked off the campaign Sunday in the Sunshine State with contests vs. Nazareth University (N.Y.) and Grinnell College (Iowa).

Playing in the annual PFX Spring Games, the garnet and white opened the afternoon with a crushing extra-inning, 3-2 loss to Nazareth before being shut out by Grinnell in the nightcap, 7-0.

GAME ONE
A two-run single by 3B Megan Pum in the bottom of the eighth inning completed a come-from-behind, 3-2 victory for Nazareth as the Golden Flyers soared to their first win of the new season (1-3).

Nazareth took an initial 1-0 lead with two outs in the last of the fourth when pinch-hitter Morgan Russo laced a triple to right-center, plating CF Maddy Spakoski after the sophomore's single through the left side started the frame.

After a Kennedy Jones sacrifice fly to deep left tied the game for the Bobcats in the top of the fifth, the 1-1 stalemate would hold strong until the visiting portion of the eighth.

With Bates starting the eighth with an automatic runner at second base, an alert Emma Yen (who made the final out of the previous inning) advanced two bases and scored the go-ahead run on a ball that never left the infield. The sophomore speedster took advantage of a Nazareth fielding miscue by never hesitating and willing the Bobcats the lead.

Also provided a runner to start its eighth-inning at-bat, 2B Ashley Bell reached on a one-out infield single to the left side, advancing (designated runner) Spakoski to third. Bell promptly stole second base. After a Nazareth strike out put the Bobcats on the brink of a huge opening-game triumph, the stage was now set for the Pum and her aforementioned heroics.

Avery Zembeck collected her first collegiate win (1-1) for the victors, permitting two runs (1 ER) on four hits and a pair of walks (3 K) in the complete-game (8 IP) performance. Isabella Albro (0-1), in her first game as a Bobcat, went the distance (7.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K) in the tough-luck loss.


GAME TWO
Four runs in the top of the first, followed by three more tallies in the second, would be plenty of offense for Grinnell (4-8) as the Pioneers kept Bates off the scoreboard for a 7-0 victory. 

Christin Hartman (1-1), scattering three hits and a pair of walks (3 K) over four frames, earned her first win of the year for Grinnell. Emma Trani followed with three scoreless frames of her own (1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) for the save.

Delaney Rankin, permitting only three earned runs during her complete-game effort (7.0 IP, 7 H, 5 BB, 7 K), was saddled with the loss (0-1).

Jones (2-for-3) accounted for two of the Bobcats' four hits in the setback.

Bates (0-2) gets right back at it Monday with games vs. St. Lawrence University (11:30 a.m.) and Washington and Jefferson College (1:45 p.m.).