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Big comeback highlights final day of spring training

Big comeback highlights final day of spring training

In their final day of spring training action, the Cyclones split two, the first being a huge comeback win against Kaskaskia College, a team that trounced them the day before.

Clutch hitting came through along with strong pitching in the Cyclones' 7-6 win. Mariah Martinez took the mound in the rematch game and went the distance, allowing just six runs (four earned) on five hits. The Cyclones jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first off Marissa Faletti's triple to right field and Lex Leighton's RBI sac fly. Kaskaskia answered with three runs. Madi Davis and her laser arm behind the plate saved a run, however, gunning down another would-be base-stealer. So far this season, she has thrown out all five runners who tried to steal on her. Down 3-1 in the third, Moraine Valley tied the game with a two-out rally. Brianna Dvorak doubled to left to score Leighton, and Jessica Coyle doubled to the opposite field to score Dvorak and knot the game. The Blue Angels added more runs in the fifth and sixth to go up 6-3. The seventh inning saw the Cyclones surge ahead starting with Dvorak who doubled to score Donna Booe and Fran Beggs. Wantroba tied the game on a slicing single to center to score Dvorak. Darcee Nichols grounded out to third, but scored Morgan Moran for the go-ahead, winning run. Martinez and the defense shut down the Blue Angels with a 1, 2, 3 inning for the victory.

The final game of the trip saw the Cyclones run into a tough pitcher from Florence-Darlington Technical College (SC), who shut them down for the 8-0 loss. Although the Cyclone offense had been on fire all week, they could only muster six hits in this contest. Leighton grabbed two of those hits and stole one base. "This game was a letdown after the emotional win in the previous game. However, the Cyclones nevertheless walked off the field and out of the complex having competed well and succeeded mightily this entire trip," said Head Coach Scott Sobol.