Salisbury, Md.—The Keystone College softball team opened its 2018 season by dropping games to Salisbury University, 12-2, and The College of New Jersey, 7-1, today.

In the opener, sophomore shortstop Dakotah Fraley belted a home run and two doubles and finished with four hits, four RBI, and three runs scored to pace Salisbury's 16-hit attack.  Sophomore catcher Kaila Beach contributed three hits and freshman Sami Mumford and senior Leanne Collins added a pair as the Sea Gulls broke a 1-1 tie after the first inning with a 7-run rally in the second inning.

Three Salibury pitchers—starter and junior Shannon Powell, sophomore Alexis Layton, and freshman Brea Bishop)—combined for five strikeouts while limiting the Giants to three singles, one each by senior Kaylee Hartman (Red Bank, N.J./Red Bank Regional), freshman Paige Mokychic, and sophomore Shannon Lloyd (King of Prussia, Pa./Archbishop John Carroll).

Keystone tied it up in the bottom of the first on a single by Hartman, who advanced to third base on a failed pick-off attempt and later scored on a ground-out by junior Alyssa Hughes (Sellersville, Pa./Pennridge).  The Giants added another run in the third when junior Samantha Monetti (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) walked and advanced to second and third on wild pitches and scored on a single by Mokychic.

In the second game with the score tied 1-1, The College of New Jersey took the lead for good with a two-run rally in the fourth, scored three more in the fifth, and added an insurance run in the sixth.   Senior Madison Levine had two hits, including a run-scoring double in the fourth, and freshman Allie Immerso belted a pair of singles, drove in a run, and scored a run to pace the Lions' 6-hit attack.

Freshmen pitchers Alanna Namit and Eliza Sweet combined for nine strikeouts while holding Keystone to three hits. 

The Giants tied it up a 1-1 in the top of the third inning when Lloyd drew a walk with the bases loaded to force a run across the plate.  Mokychic had two hits, including a double, and senior Ryleigh Fitch (Springville, Pa./Tunkhannock Area) had the other for Keystone, which will play both Salisbury and TCNJ again tomorrow.

Despite taking the loss, Hughes allowed only four hits and four of the six runs charged against her were unearned.