March 8:  Despite outhitting Heidelberg 6-3 in game one and jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning against Case Western Reserve, the Saints dropped their first two games of the season falling 3-2 and 7-1, respectively.

First-year student Kelly Burke got things going for the Saints in the top of the second inning against Heidelberg, earn a walk in her first collegiate at bat. Senior Rebecca Allen followed with a single that moved the speedy rookie into scoring position with Marissa Boyer coming to bat. Boyer singled to right field, scoring Burke and giving the Saints a 1-0 lead.

Next to the plate for the Saints was Aisha O'Connor reached safely on an error by the first baseman which scored Allen and gave the Saints a two-run advantage heading into the bottom of the frame.

Heidelberg loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a hit-by-pitch with the first three batters of the bottom of the second, setting up Taylor Hicks' three-run triple to left that center that gave the Berg a three-run lead that would hold throughout the remainder of the game.

Junior Kyle Plimpton was strong in the circle for the Saints, pitching 6.0 innings and striking out six in her season debut.

In game two against Case Western Reserve the Saints jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, capitalizing on some defensive miscues by the Spartans.

Senior Cailyn Welsh got things going for the Saints reached on an error by the Case third baseman. Classmate Leslie Stratton advanced Welsh to second with a ground out to the middle infield before the Simsbury, Conn. native eventually took third on a passed ball.

After first-year Hannah Sears walked to put runners on first and third, Burke stepped to the plate and drove a hard ground ball through to left field to score Welsh and give the Saints a 1-0 lead, one that would hold until the top of the fifth inning.

The Spartans added a run in the fifth and six runs in the sixth inning to reach the final 7-1 margin.

Plimpton, Sears and first-year Jordan Sheridan split time in the circle for the Saints in game two. Plimpton allowed four hits in four scoreless innings pitched before being relieved by Sears in her collegiate debut. The Copake, N.Y. native threw 1.2 innings, allowing four hits and three runs, while Sheridan tossed the remaining inning and a third, giving up eight hits and four earned runs.

The Saints continue their Florida schedule on Sunday afternoon for a 3 p.m. game against Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) before squaring off against Stevenson University at 7 p.m.