NEW LONDON, Conn.  -  After a five inning, 2-12 loss in game one to Albertus Magnus College, Coast Guard softball bounced back to walk off against their visitors via run rule with a 10-2 six-inning win. Junior pitcher Dana Walker (Macon, Ga.) struck out seven in the second one while holding keeping the Falcons' bats at bay.

Albertus moves to 22-14 overall following the split, with the loss being their fourth in the last five following an 11-game win streak. The Falcons will look to reverse their fortunes on Friday, April 25th, hosting Dean College (8-8 overall) in GNAC action.

GAME 1: Coast Guard 2, Albertus Magnus 12 (5 Inn.)
The Falcons started the game by putting ten runs on the board over the first three innings, with eight coming in the second. Albertus loaded the bases before recording seven straight hits to drive in as many runs. A fly out to center field broke up the streak, but one more single drove another in to make it 9-1.

Coast Guard broke into the scoring column in the bottom of the third. First-year Hayden Reilly (Prosper, Tex.) drew a two-out walk and sophomore Abriana Schmutz (Marysville, Ohio) followed by slapping a single to left field, but the ball rolled under the outfielder's glove; Reilly was able to score while Schmutz made it to third.

The Bears added another in the fourth. This time, sophomore Mack Murnane (Wilmington, N.C.) would play the role of two-out base runner after sending a single up the middle. Freshman catcher Madeline Kibler (Effingham, Ill.) laced a ball down the left field line in the ensuing at-bat for a double, and another error by the Falcon's outfielder allowed Murnane to cross safely.

Albertus scored twice in the top fifth and shut out Coast Guard in the bottom half to put the run-rule in effect. Schmutz had the Bears' only multi-hit performance of the first contest, while senior captain Veronika Krystofik (Colchester, Conn.) and sophomore Ellysia Reyna (San Antonio, Tex.) joined their aforementioned teammates in the hits column.

GAME 2: Coast Guard 10, Albertus Magnus 2 (6 Inn.)
The Bears were the ones striking first in the second contest of the day, with junior Bridget Bartz (Arlington, Va.) driving in Reilly from the first to make it a 1-0 game in the first inning. Walker held the visitors scoreless through the first three, striking out three in the process.

Coast Guard extended their lead to 5-0 in the bottom third. A routine single to right field by Kibler got past the Falcons' outfielder and allowed Reilly to score from first base. A single up the middle by Bartz moved Kibler to third base, who had an easy trot home after Murnane doubled down the left field line and put Bartz on third. Bartz was then able to cross the plate after Emma Behel's (Ellicott City, Md.) grounded out to second base, while Murnane scored the fourth run by way of a Krystofik single.

Despite a two-run fourth for Albertus, Coast Guard scored four more runs over the next two innings to set up the run rule win. The bottom of the sixth saw freshman Lauren Ragonese (Liverpool, N.Y.) step into the box and send a double down the left field line, scoring Behel from second base.

Walker was in her bag throughout the afternoon, pitching all six innings while allowing two earned runs alongside the seven strikeouts. Her record improved to 9-5, while the Bears' offense recorded 12 hits. Ragonese went three-for-four while Bartz went two-for-four.

Bears softball is back to it on Friday, April 25th, in NEWMAC action at Salve Regina. The Seahawks hold a 5-9 conference record (10-20 overall), while Coast Guard swept last season's doubleheader with 8-7 and 5-2 wins.