Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Arcadia University softball team dropped a pair of games at the Snowbird Softball Classic, falling to NCAA Division II McKendree University 9-5 before falling to Pennsylvania College of Technology 4-3. The Knights are now 2-4 for the season.
 
Sophomore Nicole Larro (Cedarville, N.J.) scored on an error in the bottom of the first against Penn College to give Arcadia an early 1-0 lead, but that lead didn't last long as the Wildcats plated three runs in the top of the second to take the lead for good in the game.
 
Hill singled to lead off the inning and scored from third as freshman Jessica Gmerek (Bellefonte, Pa.) reached base on an error to tie the game, and sophomore Katlyn Wertz (Bernville, Pa.) scored on a suicide squeeze to put Penn College ahead. Gmerek would score two batters later on a sac-fly to cap the scoring in the frame.
 
The Wildcats scored what would prove to be the game-winning run the following inning when Gmerek lifted a sac-fly to left that allowed freshman Brittney McHugh (Frederick, Md.) to cross the plate.
 
The Knights loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth, but managed just one run when sophomore Alicia McMahon (Mel Air, Md.) scored on senior Amanda Tomaschek's (Toms River, N.J.) single. A pair of shallow fly ball outs to the outfield and an infield popup followed to end the threat.
 
Arcadia pulled back within one when sophomore Sara Boyadjis (Cedar Knolls, N.J.) scored on senior Jessica Wood's (Columbus, N.J.) one-out double that left runners on second and third, but freshman Brianne Brewer (Jersey Shore, Pa.) got senior Leanda Helms (Topton, Pa.) and sophomore Sarah Gunia (East Brunswick N.J.) to fly out and strand both runners to give Penn College the win. The Knights stranded 17 runners in the game, while the Wildcats left just six runners on base.
 
Sophomore Kimberley Walter (Beavertown, Pa.) earned the decision for Penn College after scattering eight hits and four walks while allowing two runs in four-plus innings, while Brewer gave up one run on four hits in three innings of relief. Gunia took the loss for Arcadia after allowing four unearned runs on four hits and three walks in three innings.
 
Arcadia came out on top following a wild first inning against McKendree with a 4-3 lead, and the score remained that way until the Bearcats scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth, which included a two-run homer off the bat of junior Lindsay Schmitz (Streator, Ill.), to take a 7-4 lead. The Bearcats pushed two more runs across in the sixth when junior Erica Johnson (New Baden, Ill.) doubled to plate classmate Kate Mayes (Collinsville, Ill.) and then scored on fellow junior Katie Nauman's (Amboy, Ill.) sac-fly two batters later.
 
Sophomore Taylor Barnouski (O'Fallon, Ill.) earned the decision for McKendree despite giving up five runs on eight hits in seven innings. Johnson was 4-for-4 with a double, three runs scored and two RBI, while Schmitz finished 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored.
 
Gunia took loss for Arcadia after giving up nine runs, five earned, on 10 hits in six innings. Helms and sophomore Natalie O'Reilly (Honesdale, Pa.) had two hits each for the Knights, while Larro was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Gunia and McMahon both went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
 
Arcadia committed five errors that led to four unearned runs in the contest, which proved to be the difference in the game.
 
The Knights will close out their trip to the Snowbird Softball Classic Thursday when they face Gordon College at 9:30 a.m. and Bridgewater College at 11:30 a.m.