CLERMONT, Fla. – Simmons softball concluded spring break splitting Friday afternoon's games against Monmouth (Ill.) and Swarthmore. The Sharks defeated the Fighting Scots, 6-1, but fell to the Garnet in the final game, 9-0. 

SIMMONS 6, MONMOUTH (ILL.) 1

Senior right-hander Paige Concannon picked up her first victory of the season, tossing a complete-game, allowing one earned run while striking out seven. The Rhode Island native fell behind early when Monmouth scored in the bottom of the second, but settled down and kept the Sharks in the ame.

The bats woke up in the top of the fifth inning. Junior Sam Barr opened the inning with her second base-hit of the game. Two batters later, junior Kylie Collins lined a single back where it came from to score Barr to tie the game and knock Monmouth starter Abby Leber out of the game.

Senior Allie Mulhern laid down a perfect bunt to bring in first-year Raya Anderson and give the Sharks the 2-1 advantage. But the Simmons offense was letting up. With runners in scoring position, senior Christie Bott laced a single back up the middle to plate both Collins and Mulhern and take a 4-1 lead. Moments later senior Alex Morang brought in Bott rocketing a single down the third baseline and increase the lead to 5-1.

Simmons added to its lead in the top of the sixth. Barr led off reaching base on an error and came around to score the sixth Sharks run on a double by Collins two batters later.

 SWARTHMORE 9, SIMMONS 0
The Garnet jumped in front early, pushing across a run in the top of the first inning, but Castigliego minimized the damage and kept the Sharks in the ballgame. The fourth inning presented the Sharks with their best opportunity to score.

Mulhern led of the home half of the fourth working a six-pitch walk then got herself into scoring position on Bott's sacrifice bunt. However, the Sharks were unable bring her home after Garnet starter Gwen Glatz retired senior Shannon McMahon on strikes and got Castigliego to fly out to center.

Swarthmore added to its lead scoring one run in the fifth and another pair in the sixth to extend its lead to, 4-1. They broke the game wide open, batting around in the top of the seventh to put up a crooked number five and knock Castigliego out of th4e game. First-year left-hander Chelsie Trask came on in relief, making her first appearance of the season, and got Kate Hart to pop up to the catcher and Sam Hastings to line out to shortstop.

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior right-hander Paige Concannon earned her first victory tossing, a complete game, seven innings allowing one run on four hits, while striking out a single-game high seven betters in a 6-1 win over Monmouth.
• Senior Christie Bott went 3-for-6 with two RBI and run scored. She also registered four putouts in left field.
• Junior Sam Barr went 2-for-3 with two runs scored at the plate against Monmouth and ignited the Sharks' five-run fifth inning.

UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the diamond on March 20 when they open the season at Daly Field, hosting non-conference Brandeis University at noon.