PHOENIXVILLE, PA- In only their second home game of the season, the Lady Patriots gave their audience a great show.  Playing host to Trinity Washington University, the women came a four-run deficit to tie the game and push into four extra innings.  At the bottom of the 11^th inning the Tigers managed to outlast the host school, and the Lady Patriots fell by a final score of 13-15 in game one and 10-19 in game two.

Meeting for the second time this season, the Lady Patriots were looking to put up a strong fight on their home field.  Things looked grim for VFCC as the Tigers held a four run advantage, 2-6, over the host school going into the bottom of the sixth inning.  That's when things started to get heated. 

From the first batter, the Lady Patriots went on a roll.  Tamika Piper singled followed by a double from Samantha Reed to put both runners in scoring position.  Power hitter Amanda McGinness tripled into left field, bringing both runners across home and put VFCC just two runs behind, 4-6.  Sarah Brugere flustered the defense with hit to second base, resulting in an error and bringing McGinness home to trail by one, 5-6.  The Tigers brought the inning to an end before any more Lady Patriots made their way home. 
Bottom of the seventh, the host school was able to restrain the visitors, retiring three straight batters and increasing their chances of tying the game.  First batter Emily Cantrell reached first base on an error by Lions before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from Rachel Gomez.  Tamika Piper did some damage, grounding out to the pitcher but allowing Cantrell to advance to third and stand in choice scoring position.   An ill-timed over- throw from the Tiger's shortstop granted Samantha Reed a pass to first base and brought Cantrell home for the tying run!  The inning came to a close with a fly out and pushed the game into extra innings.

With a runner placed on second to start the inning, the Tigers were able to bring their player home within two plays, stealing third then coming home off of a double.  VFCC ended the inning before further damage was done.  Placing their fastest running on second, the Lady Patriots looked to tie.  Sarah Brugere popped a deep fly ball out to second base and Amanda McGinness played a risky move, racing along the bases to beat the throw home to score and tie the game again.  The inning ended before the women could score again.  Top of the ninth the Tigers recorded two runs, only to be matched by the Lady Patriots in the bottom.  The same story happened in the tenth, with each team scoring two runs to head into the 11^th inning, 12-12.

Top of the 11^th, the Tigers exhausted the women's defense to earn three runs.  VFCC was now down by three.  Rachel Daniels was placed on second before advancing to third after Emily Cantrell grounded out to the pitcher.  Rachel Gomez singled to the left side reaching first base, giving the women another runner.  Tamika Piper drilled the ball into left field, bringing Daniels home and placing Gomez on second.  Samantha Reed popped up to second base, gaining the women's second out.  Amanda McGuiness stepped up to the plate, with two outs against her and two runners on base.  Foul-tipping the first two pitches, McGuiness was careful with the next pitch, waiting for the perfect one.   Unfortunately, what looked like a ball inside, turned out to be strike three and a win for the Tigers, 12-15. 

Game two the Lady Patriots came out full force, holding a 7-3 run advantage going into the third inning.  That's when things went flat.  The Tigers gathered eight runs and held the host school silent, before gaining two more runs in fourth and six in the fifth, allowing the Patriots just three more runs to steal the second game, 19-10.

The Lady Patriots remain home for the next game on Sunday, April 13.  The women play host to College of St. Elizabeth at 2pm.

Go Patriots!