CLERMONT, Fla.-- Bates College softball continued its hot start to the 2025 season with a doubleheader sweep Friday, defeating Westminster College (Mo.) 9-0 in five innings before rallying to edge Salem State University, 3-2. The Bobcats finish its annual appearance in the PFX Spring Games with a 7-3 record, the team's best 10-game start since opening the 2018 season at 8-2.
GAME ONE
The Bobcats wasted no time asserting control against Westminster (3-10), plating runs in each of the first four innings to secure a 9-0 victory.
Bates struck right away in the bottom of the first when
Isabel Bettencourt delivered an RBI double to left center, scoring 3B
Emma Yen from second base. In the second, the Bobcats took advantage of a Westminster passed ball and fielding error as CF
Maya Lee drove in 1B
Sophie Garber with a single to center to extend the lead to 2-0.
A six-run third put the game out of reach, highlighted by a three-run triple from
Grace Householter (1-for-2, SF, 4 RBI) and a ribbie double from Yen.
Haley Alden contributed to the scoring with a successful safety squeeze bunt to plate Householter.
Alden (2-1) was in full control in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout (5 inn.) while scattering four hits and striking out six (0 BB).
GAME TWO
In the nightcap, Bates showed its mettle by coming from behind to defeat Salem State (5-7) in a tightly contested 3-2 game.
The Bobcats struck first in the opening inning on an RBI double by Bettencourt, but Salem State quickly responded with a run of their own to tie the game at 1-1. The Vikings took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning after an unearned run crossed the plate.
Bates remained composed and mounted a seventh-inning comeback. Lee sparked the rally with a lead-off single, and Yen followed with an RBI double to tie the game at 2-2. CF
Zariya Anderson then reached on a fielder's choice to third base, driving in Yen to give the Bobcats the advantage for good.
Delaney Rankin (5-0) continued her impressive week, going the distance and allowing five hits and no earned runs while striking out nine. The junior ace finishes the trip with five complete game victories, to go along with three shutouts, 51 strikeouts (9 walks), and an 0.64 ERA in her 33.0 innings pitched.
Bettencourt topped the squad at the plate, batting an incredible .656 (21-32) with two home runs, nine runs scored, and 18 RBI in 10 games. The sophomore catcher posted an RBI in all but one contest on the trip and returns home with a 10-game hitting streak to start the year.
The team as a whole is batting a collective .341.
The garnet and white returns to New England for its next action, a non-conference D.H. this Wednesday at Bridegewater State University. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.
