CLERMONT, Fla. – The Widener University softball team opened its season strong in the first two games of its Florida trip, downing Berea 10-2 and then squeezing out a tight 3-2 win over St. Mary's (Minn.).

BY THE NUMBERS

• Jamie Gosselin finished the day with three hits, knocking in a double and two RBIS.
• Carli Benozich went 2-of-3 at the plate in game one, tallying two RBIs.
• Ariel Silva recorded three RBIs after sending home all three base runners on a triple against Berea.

HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME ONE
Widener got the season off to a hot start in the top of the first inning as Gosselin walked and was sacrificed to second. Benozich followed with a single, plating Gosselin for a 1-0 Pride lead. Two batters later, Lindsey Cooper smacked a double that scored Benozich. Malia Calciano came through with a two-bagger of her own, bringing home Cooper for a 3-0 advantage.

Jess Kaczmarczyk and Gosselin opened the second with back-to-back singles. A defensive miscue allowed Kaczmarczyk to score and advanced Gosselin to third where a Benozich single brought her home for a 5-0 lead.

After a scoreless third, Widener plated three more in the fourth, the big blow coming from Silva who had a bases loaded triple. Berea scored twice in the bottom of the inning before the Pride got the runs back in the top of the fifth, establishing a 10-2 lead. A scoreless bottom of the fifth for Mountaineers ended the game.

Kait Jaworski (1-0) picked up the win, going four innings allowing three hits and striking out seven. Isabella Kostic pitched a scoreless fifth inning.

HOW IT HAPPENED IN GAME TWO
St. Mary's struck first following two scoreless innings with a run in the top of the third. The Pride responded shortly after when a Cardinals' misstep put Ally McDowell on first and she went on to steal second. Bella Walker proceeded to drive in a double to send McDowell home and lock the score at 1-1 after three.

After another St. Mary's run in the fourth put it back on top, Gosselin got on base off a Cardinals' error and snagged second to open the bottom of the fifth. McDowell knocked in a single and an ensuing Cardinals' error plated Gosselin to tie things back up.

In the sixth, Kaylin Johnson drove in a single and was sacrificed to second. One more error by St. Mary's brought Johnson home as the Pride took its first lead of the game. A scoreless inning by the Cardinals ended the game after the top of the seventh.

Mikayla Fedele grabbed the win, allowing three hits and no earned runs through seven innings.