Softball Falls To Florida A&M At The Charge On Classic

ORLANDO, Fla. – Dartmouth Big Green opened Saturday afternoon with an early lead but couldn't fight off Florida A&M, falling 8-3 at the UCF Softball Complex.

Dartmouth (1-9) tallied eight hits on the day, highlighted by a 3-for-4 performance from Samantha Gresham at the top of the lineup. The junior center fielder scored twice and drove in a run, while Olivia Schramm added a double and two RBIs. The Big Green wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning. Gresham singled, stole second and came around to score on Schramm's RBI double to left center to give Dartmouth a 1-0 advantage.

After two scoreless frames from both sides, Dartmouth extended its lead in the third. Gresham singled again and later scored on a Schramm groundout, pushing the margin to 2-0.
Florida A&M (9-9) responded in the bottom half of the inning. With the bases loaded, Amari Brown delivered the decisive swing of the game, launching a grand slam to left field to put the Rattlers in front, 4-2.

The Big Green answered in the fifth. Ashley Frantz singled to start the frame, and Gresham later drove in a run with a base hit to right, cutting the deficit to 4-3.
However, the Rattlers broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth. A combination of hits and walks plated four runs, highlighted by a two-run single from Keeleigh Spooner and an RBI walk, stretching the lead to 8-3.

Dartmouth threatened in the sixth after Marilyn Beauvais singled and Cwen Wilson drew a walk, but Florida A&M starter Samantha Smith worked out of the jam and closed the door in the seventh. Smith earned the complete-game win, allowing three runs on eight hits. Charley Maddox took the loss in the circle for Dartmouth, striking out four over six innings of work.

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