Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FORT MYERS, Fla. – A come-from-behind victory over Wittenberg University and a dominating performance against Rochester Institute of Technology gave the Dominican University softball team two more wins today, completing their participation in the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. The Stars went 6-2 on their spring trip (winning the last six), which gives them an overall record of 7-5 before heading home for the remainder of their season.

Versus Wittenberg, the Stars were down 0-1 right away in the first, and the score would remain that way until the bottom of the third inning when a Melissa Summaria (Algonquin, Ill./Dundee Crown) two-out, RBI double brought Sarah Budz (Orland Park, Ill./Providence Catholic) across the plate after she reached base on balls. Tayler Miller (Elkhart, Ind./Elkhart Memorial) also recorded an RBI in the inning, drawing a walk and bringing Andrea Pinarski (Goshen, Ind./Concord) in for the score.

Wittenberg tied things back up in the fourth with an unearned run, and took a 5-2 lead after the top of the fifth, scoring all of the inning’s runs with two outs on the board.

Dominican wasn’t able to answer back in the bottom of the inning, but held Wittenberg without a score in the top of the sixth to keep the Tigers’ lead in check.

Then came the bottom of the sixth. With one out already on the board, Allie Evans (Greenwood, Ind.) smacked a single to right field. Then came another out. But it wouldn’t bother the Stars, as Corinne Wimmer (Elgin, Ill./Larkin) drew a walk that moved Evans to second, and Emily Mahoney (Crystal Lake, Ill./South) stepped to the plate to deliver a line drive down the third base line, scoring Evans.

Then it was Pinarski at-bat, who found a gap in right field to deliver a two-RBI double, tying the game at three runs apiece. Summaria was up next, and her grounder out to the Wittenberg shortstop would appear to be the end of the inning, but her speed would force an error by the Tigers and score Pinarski for what would be the winning run of the game.

In addition to her double, RBI, and one run scored, Mahoney also tallied eight strikeouts in the win. Pinarski and Summaria each contributed with two RBI’s apiece, while Pinarski also came across the plate to score two of the Stars’ six runs.

Against Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Cicale would start in the circle for the Stars, and didn’t allow a hit through five and one-third innings of play. Along the way, the Stars’ offense would score four runs on five hits, led by Budz’ RBI single in the second and leadoff double to start the fifth.

With a 4-0 lead heading into the sixth frame, Miller started another Dominican rally with an infield single, and after Vicky Fleming (Elk Grove, Ill.) moved her over to second, the next three batters would trade positions with one another, driving in three more runs.

Evans was the first to replace her teammate on the bases, as she drove a double out to center field. Then Budz came to bat, also finding a gap in center field to score Evans. Wimmer’s single then ripped up the middle of the field, scoring Budz, and Wimmer was also able to advance to second on the play.

That would be the end of Dominican’s scoring in the game, but RIT would find a couple of runs to close the gap, scoring one in the bottom of the sixth and two more in the last half frame for a final score of 7-3, Dominican.

Five different Stars would record RBI’s in the game, led by Budz’s and Evans’ two apiece. Budz also went off for two doubles on 3-4 at the plate, scored two runs, and added a stolen base, one of six Stars to swipe a bag. Pinarski drew two walks in the contest, and also contributed with a sac fly to left field.

Dominican will now wait over two weeks for their next contest, facing North Central College in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 24, in Naperville, Ill. First pitch is scheduled for 12 PM CST.

To view hundreds of photos documenting the Stars’ participation in the Gene Cusic Classic, visit the Dominican University Stars Facebook page.