Wheaton edges McDaniel, 3-2

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Amanda Poplaski went 3-for-4 with two runs scored to lead Wheaton (Mass.) to a 3-2 victory over McDaniel in non-conference softball action at the Rebel Spring Games on Tuesday.

Erinne Warrenfeltz (Smithsburg, Md./Middletown) led the Green Terror (3-4) with a 3-for-4 showing from the plate and an RBI.

Katy Salka added a hit for the Lyons (5-3) and drove in the tying run in the fifth inning.

Trailing 2-1, Poplaski reached on a bunt single to lead off the inning before stealing second.

Jenna Rocha followed with a walk before a double steal moved the runners to second and third with no outs.

After a popout, a Salka ground ball allowed Popalski to score the tying run before a throwing error also allowed Rocha to score with the go-ahead run.

Rachel Merrick pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning and around a two-out hit by pitch in the seventh to pick up her first save of the season.

Poplaski manufactured a run in the home first inning to stake Wheaton to a 1-0 lead.

After a leadoff bunt single, she stole second. After stealing third, she was able to come home on a throwing error.

A fielding error and fielder's choice put Laura Mertz (Gillette, N.J./Watchung Hills) and Leigh Blohm (Bel Air, Md./Toms River North [N.J.]) at first and second with no outs in the top of the fifth.

A Jordan Beans (Hanover, Pa./Hanover) sacrifice bunt put the runners at second and third with one out.

A Lauren Fusco (Laurel, Md./St. Vincent Pallotti) RBI groundout plated Mertz before Warrenfeltz singled to score Blohm and give the Green Terror a 2-1 advantage.

McDaniel returns to action against Westminster (Pa.) on Thursday. Game time is 11 a.m.

Score by Inning                           1    2    3    4    5    6    7    -     R   H   E
McDaniel (3-4)                              0    0    0    0    2    0    0    -     2    6    3
Wheaton (Mass.) (5-3)                  1    0    0    0    2    0    x    -     3    8    1

Sara Erlichman, Erinne Warrenfeltz (6) and Leigh Blohm; Lesley Warn, Rachel Merrick and Valerie Tratner, Nicole DeRosa (5), Tratner (7). WP: Warn (3-1). LP: Erlichman. S: Merrick (1). SO-BB: Erlichman 3-2, Warrenfeltz 0-1; Warn 2-2, Merrick 0-1.

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