TITUSVILLE, Fla. – The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College softball team started off 2017 with a sweep of Carlow in Titusville, Fla., on Sunday. The Pomeroys won the rematch of the 2016 USCAA National Championship by defeating CU 14-0 in the first game and 5-1 in the second game.

The Pomeroys ended 2016 by defeating Carlow in the USCAA National Championship game, 6-0. The back-to-back defending champs are beginning the 2017 season in Florida with games through the end of the week.

Game 1

The Pomeroys dominated at the plate in game one with 18 hits and 14 runs. SMWC got off to a hot start with four runs in the first, five runs in the second and three runs in the third before slowing down in the fourth and fifth with one run in each inning. Nine different Pomeroys recorded a hit, with senior Emma Riffe going 3-for-3 with two doubles. Also leading the way at the plate was sophomore Hollie Jones with a 4-for-5 performance that included two doubles and one RBI. Sophomore Nicole Niespodziany went a perfect 3-for-3 with one double.

Sophomore Taylor Andrew and junior Christian Chambers both saw time pitching for SMWC. Andrew went three innings, allowing just two hits, while Chambers went two innings and allowed no hits.

Game 2

Game two was a little more difficult, with the Pomeroys recording just five hits, but still getting the 5-1 victory. Junior Kerri Schrock led the way in game two with a 2-for-2 performance that included one double.

SMWC took an early 1-0 lead in the second before rattling off three runs in the fourth and one in the sixth to start off the season with a sweep. Game two saw junior Stephanie Richardson and Chambers split time, with Richardson going five innings and allowing one run, while Chambers pitched two innings and allowed no hits.

Game Highlights

• Jones recorded four stolen bases
• Ulery hit her first home run of the season
• The Pomeroys hit six doubles
• Three different pitchers recorded time in Sunday's doubleheader and together they allowed just one run and six hits