KISSIMMIEE, Fla. – Sophomore center fielder Grace DiBacco (Selkirk, N.Y.) drove in four runs, including a three-run home run, but the the Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team was defeated by Ramapo College, 9-7, today at the Fortune Road Sportsplex in Kissimmee, Fla. as part of The Spring Games.

The Lyons fall to 7-3 on the season, while the Roadrunners improve to 10-2. 

The teams combined to score multiple runs in seven different innings. Wheaton scored two runs in both the first and second frames to take a 4-2 lead. Rampo crossed the plate twice in the fourth to knot the score at 4-4 and tallied two more runs in the fifth to take the lead for good at 6-4. The Roadrunners continued its offensive momentum into the sixth inning with three runs to take a 9-4 advantage. The Lyons rallied for a trio of runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn't enough.

DiBacco was 3-4 with four runs batted in, including a three-run homer to pace Wheaton, while junior second base Bryanna Agan (Averill Park, N.Y.) was 2-4 with a double and two RBI. Junior shortstop Lindsey Oliveira (Westport, Mass.) contributed by going 2-4 with two runs scored. First year relief pitcher Ashlyn Burt (Olathe, Kan.) took the loss to fall to 0-2 after allowing three runs (two earned) on a hit and three walks.

Nine different players collected at least one hit for Ramapo. Senior catcher Alexis Corra (Mahwah, N.J.) fueled the Roadrunners, going 2-3 with a double and a run batted in, while first year left fielder (Alexis Hastings) (Long Beach, Calif.) was 2-3 with a run scored. Senior center fielder Nicole Cerasi (Hamilton, N.J.) finished the day going 1-1 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Junior reliever Mahogany Wheeler (Millville, N.J.) earned the victory, allowing just three runs on three hits in five and two-thirds innings and striking out two batters.

The Roadrunners faced a 4-2 margin before Cerasi reached on a bunt single and sophomore Katie Kygiel (Hillsborough, N.J. was hit by a pitch before they both moved into scoring possession after stealing the next base. Corra plated one run with a sacrifice fly and Wheeler followed with an RBI double down the left field line to knot the game at 4-4. 

Hastings worked a leadoff walk and senior Anna Messina (Marlton, N.J.) reached on an infield single to put both runners on the corners with one out. Cerasi reached on a bunt, while Hastings scored to give Ramapo the lead for good at 5-4. Rygiel reached on an error and Messina scored to increase the Roadrunners cushion to two runs.

The first five hitters reached safely for Ramapo in the sixth inning. Wheeler led the offensive charge with a walk to open the inning and was followed by a double off the bat of Avery Bartolomeo (Mount Laurel, N.J.) to put both runners in scoring position with no outs. First year Avery Kontura (Hamilton, N.J.) came through for the Roadrunners with a single to right field to plate Wheeler and make it 7-4. Bartolomo later scored on a wild pitch and Cerasi knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly to increase the margin to 9-4. 

Ramapo looked to have the game in hand, but the Lyons rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to make it 9-7. Oliveira and junior catcher Jill Ceddia (Hopkinton, Mass.) both reached on fielder's choices, before DiBacco cleared the bases with a three-run home run to left field.

Four of the first five Wheaton batters all collected hits, including run-scoring singles from Ceddia and DiBacco to give the Lyons a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. 

The Roadrunners wasted no time in matching the scoring burst with a pair of runs of their own. Cerasi single-handedly created a run for Ramapo after she drew a walk, stole second and then scored on a throwing error. Jaclyn Monaco reached on a bunt single and later scored on a Rygiel single to center to pull the Roadrunners even at 2-2.

Junior third base Amanda Bogardus (Saco, Maine) smacked a leadoff single to right center and sophomore left fielder Juliette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) reached on a fielder's choice. Agan came through with a two-run double to center field to score Bogardus and Zito with the go-head runs and a 4-2 Wheaton margin.

The Lyons will be in action again on Saturday, March 25 when they host University of Massachusetts Dartmouth at the Clark Softball Field at 12:00 p.m., while Ramapo plays Nichols College tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. in Kissimmee, Fla.