MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The University of Scranton softball team (3-3) split a pair of contests with Spalding (Ky.) (3-0) and TCNJ (3-1) on an overcast Sunday afternoon in Myrtle Beach.

The Royals dropped a 7-1 decision to Spalding before cruising past the Lions in an 11-1 run rule shortened victory in the nightcap.

Spalding 7, Scranton 1

Each team plated a run apiece in the first inning, but Spalding tacked on three in the second and three more in the sixth for the 7-1 victory.

In the top of the first for Scranton, senior Jenna Davida (Congers, N.Y./Clarkstown North) led off with a double, advanced to third when junior Jessica Stadler (Monmouth Junction, N.J./South Brunswick) flied out to right and scored on the same play on an error charged to Golden Eagles' 3B Bella Velez.

However, Spalding answered with a run of their own in the home half and added three more runs in the second.

Junior Courtney Wellet (Glen Gardner, N.J./Voorhees) made her first start of the season in the circle for the Royals, but was dealt the loss after allowing the four runs on four hits. Freshman Soleil Dooner (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) came on in relief and gave up three runs on seven hits to go along with three strikeouts in five innings of work.

Michaela Ferman allowed an unearned run on four hits and struck out nine in a complete gam eeffort for Spalding.

Scranton 11, TCNJ 1 (F/5 Innings)

The Royals scored nine runs through the first two innings and rolled to the 11-1 victory in five innings during their second game of the day on Sunday.

Scranton led 5-0 after an inning and added four more runs in the second. In the first inning, four straight hits got things started as Stadler knocked in a run with an RBI double and Dooner delivered an RBI single to set the stage for a two-run single from sophomore Emma Tirollo (Orange, Conn./Amity Regional) and an RBI single from sophomore Kylie Rochford (Tinton Falls, N.J./Red Bank Catholic). 

Tirollo (2-0) helped her own cause as she earned the win in the circle for Scranton with five innings of one-run ball and allowed just two hits while fanning four.

Ally Schlee was dealt the loss for the Lions as she gave up three runs on three hits and did not record an out in the first inning.

Senior Lauren Cawley (Duryea, Pa./Scranton Prep) cleared the bases with a three-run double in the second inning and also scored on the play with an error charged to Lions' RF Morgan Estelow.

Davida (2-4, 2 R), Stadler (2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R) and junior Sarah Stepnowski (Monroe Twp., N.J./Monroe) who went 2-3 with an RBI and two runs scored all tallied multi-hit games for the Royals.

Freshman Emmie Feltenberger (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) also tallied a hit, a walk and two runs scored in the victory.

The Royals are back in action on Tuesday morning against Utica at 9 a.m.

--ROYALS--