LEESBURG, Fla. – Freshman Cameron Kelly hit a walk-off RBI triple in the seventh inning to give the McDaniel College softball team a 6-5 win over Eastern Connecticut State in the second game of a twin bill at The Spring Games in Leesburg, Fla.

The Green Terror (6-4-1) earned their first walk-off win since the first game of a doubleheader against Stevenson on Apr. 21, 2024. 

McDaniel first overcame an early deficit to draw even with SUNY Brockport in the sixth inning before falling late in the first contest of the day.

SUNY Brockport 10, McDaniel 7 (Game 1)

The Golden Eagles (6-4) scored first on an RBI single in the first inning. The Green Terror knotted the game at 1-1 after an RBI single from senior Olivia Dresser in the fourth inning. But Brockport would battle back to take the lead, ending the fourth with a two-run double to make the score 4-1.

The Golden Eagles would add another run in the fifth before McDaniel rallied to tie the contest in the sixth. Sophomore Riley Jackson started the comeback with an RBI single; junior Taylor Applefeld then drew a bases-loaded walk to score another run. Junior Ryan Smith tied the game at 5-5 on a two-run single to right field, scoring Jackson and sophomore Libertie Schatzman. 

Brockport countered in the bottom of the sixth with a five-run frame to take control. Trailing 10-5 entering the seventh, McDaniel rallied again to score two more runs but could not complete the comeback, falling 10-7 in game one to end the team's unbeaten streak at The Spring Games.

Applefeld led the team at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Smith went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and two walks. Sophomore Keonna Gonzalez had a two-hit day and scored twice, while Jackson chipped in with a hit and an RBI.

Schatzman took the loss for the Green Terror, pitching 5.1 innings and striking out three Brockport batters. She gave up seven earned runs and nine hits in the loss.

The Green Terror got back on track in game two with a walk-off win against Eastern Connecticut State.

McDaniel 6, Eastern Connecticut State 5 (Game 2)

McDaniel broke through in the second inning with an RBI single from Smith and a two-run single from freshman Emma Taff, taking an early 3-0 lead. 

After two scoreless frames, the Warriors (2-6) scored in the fifth on an RBI groundout to cut the Green Terror lead to two. But senior Bella Sylvester added two more runs for McDaniel in the bottom half of the inning, drilling an RBI triple to right field and later scoring on a wild pitch. The Green Terror ended the fifth with a 5-1 advantage.

The Warriors then plated four runs in the seventh to tie the game at 5-5. The rally began with an RBI double to right field, followed by an RBI single that scored two after a fielding error. Eastern Connecticut State would tie the game on another RBI single and fielding error.

In the bottom of the seventh, Sylvester drew a one-out walk to get on base, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. Kelly hit a two-out triple down the right field line to score Sylvester and win the game in walk-off fashion for McDaniel.

Kelly finished 1-for-2, with her lone hit being the game-winner. Taff went 2-for-4 and led the team with two RBI in the win. Smith had another RBI hit to give her three RBIs on the day. Sylvester had a two-hit performance, scoring tow runs and drawing a walk.

Kelly also got the win for the Green Terror, pitching all seven innings and striking out two batters. She walked six and gave up nine hits but only two earned runs.

McDaniel wraps up The Spring Games with a final doubleheader tomorrow against Babson and SUNY Cortland. First pitch is slated for 10 am.