CLERMONT, Fla. -- The MCLA softball team opened its season Tuesday afternoon at the PFX games with an 8-3 loss to UMass Dartmouth in the 2018 opener.

 

UMD (5-2) took control early, taking advantage of a pair of runs to take a 1-0 lead after one inning.

 

MCLA scored an unearned run in the fifth before added two in the final frame as Kaitlyn Berghela's RBI triple to right field scored Kayla Baker, who slapped a single to start the frame.  Kaylyn Holliday then drove her home with her third hit of the day.

 

MCLA freshman hurler Sam Feinstein was tagged with the loss. Holliday had three hits for the Trailblazers to lead the offense.

 

Lasell 5, MCLA 3

Lasell's Hailey Haskins tossed a complete game and the Lasers improved to 1-3.

 

MCLA jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first as Kaylyn Holliday singled home Kaitlyn Berghela who had tripled. Holliday came around to score on a Lasell miscue making it 2-0.

 

The Lasers answered with a run in the bottom of the frame to get within 2-1, but then took the lead for good in the second inning. An RBI single tied it at 2-2 and an MCLA error led to the third run of the game for the Lasers.  

 

Lasell gave themselves some breathing room in the fifth by adding a pair of runs to take a commanding 5-2 lead. From there, Haskins did the rest.

 

MCLA outhit Lasell by an 8-6 margin but was hampered by the four defensive miscues.

 

Berghela went 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored. Morgan Watson added a pair of hits to lead the offense.

 

Watson took the loss on the mound going the distance. She allowed the five runs but just two were earned, and she struck out three.

 

MCLA is back in action Wednesday with a twinbill against Coast Guard and Scranton.