CLERMONT, Fla. – Zariya Anderson went 3-for-4 with three RBI, and Delaney Rankin tossed yet another complete game with 11 strikeouts, as the Bates softball team defeated St. Lawrence University, 6-3, Thursday morning at the PFX Spring Games.

The Bobcats (5-3) ended the day with a split, succumbing to Wellesley College, 19-7 (5 inn.), in the nightcap.

GAME ONE
Trailing 1-0 entering the fourth, the Bobcats broke through with three runs in the top of the frame. Anderson's RBI single tied the game before Isabel Bettencourt's RBI knock through the left side, followed by Grace Householter's sacrifice fly, put Bates ahead. Anderson added an RBI double in the fifth. After the Saints (5-3) pulled within a run in the sixth, the sophomore slugger came through again with another ribbie two-bagger in the seventh to extend Bates' lead.

Rankin (4-0) allowed 10 hits but limited the damage, stranding eight runners while striking out the side in the seventh to seal the win. The junior ace saw her season-opening shutout streak come to an end at 19.1 innings after yielding a run with one out in the first vs. the Saints. Rankin ends the day possessing a minuscule ERA of 0.81, to go along with 42 strikeouts (6 BB), over 26.0 IP.

GAME TWO
In the nightcap, Wellesley (3-2) jumped out to an early lead, scoring twice in the first inning on a two-run home run by catcher Anisa Rodriguez. Bates responded quickly in the bottom of the frame as SS Ella Maher (1-for-1, 2 BB, 2 RBI) drew a walk and scored on a single by Anderson (2-for-3, 3 RBI) and a subsequent fielding error by the Wellesley left-fielder. Anderson came around to score on a single by Bettencourt (2-for-3, RBI). who now leads the team with an astounding 16 RBI in eight games.

The Blue took control of the game with a six-run second inning, capitalizing on a Bates error and six hits to make it 8-2. Wellesley tacked on four more runs in the third, highlighted by a two-run triple from RF/LF Ruijia Yang, extending their lead to 12-2.

Bates showed some resilience in the bottom of the third as Anderson doubled to drive in Maher (walk) and 2B Emma Yen (walk), cutting the deficit to 12-4. Bettencourt followed with another single, but Wellesley brought in relief pitcher Lauren Young (2-0), who shut down the rally with a fielder's choice force play and a strikeout.

Wellesley added two runs in the fourth on a home run by 3B Diana Borrison and five more in the fifth, including a two-run single by Rodriguez, to put the game out of reach. Bates managed one more run in the bottom of the fifth when LF Sienna Pietrasiewicz doubled and scored on a groundout by pinch-hitter Maya Lee.

First-year Brigid Gaffny (0-1) took the loss for Bates, Haley Alden and Rhyan Wachal combined for the final 3.1 innings in relief. Anderson finished the twin-bill going 5-for-7 with six RBI at the dish.

The garnet and white closes out its Florida road trip on Friday with contests vs. Westminster College (2:00 p.m.) and Salem State University (4:15 p.m.).