North Myrtle Beach, SC- Dean College softball has officially ended their time in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. The team ended their final two games with a split, taking a 9-1 victory against Franciscan University and an 11-2 loss against Sweet Briar College. The team returns home with a 3-4 record, securing their best start since 2020.
Game One: Dean College 9, Franciscan University 1
The Bulldogs showcased impressive offensive depth in game one, and
Xandra Silva (New Britain, CT) played a pivotal role in their success. Silva had a standout performance, going 2-for-4 at the plate with three runs and an RBI. Her contributions helped power a six-run second inning, with her single bringing in the opening run. She also made a solid impact on the base paths, advancing runners and contributing to multiple scoring plays.
Dean's offensive outburst was bolstered by strong performances from other key players, including Sydnee Ramos (New Bedford, MA), who went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and Katrina Lee (Brookline, NH), who added a pair of singles and an RBI. In the field, Dean played cleanly, committing no errors, while pitcher Bryce DeGasparre (1-1) earned the win, giving up just one unearned run and limiting Franciscan to only four hits.
Game Two: Sweet Briar College 11, Dean College 2
Dean fell to Sweet Briar 11-2 despite a strong start in the first inning. The Bulldogs scored two early runs, with Liana Silva (New Britain, CT) driving in Ramos, and Ari Amaral (Attleboro, MA) advancing to third on a sacrifice fly, eventually bringing home Leah Chamberlain (Burlington, VT). However, Sweet Briar quickly responded with three runs in the first and then extended their lead with a dominant second inning, scoring six more runs. Dean struggled to break through, as they were held to just five hits throughout the game.
Jessica Stewart (Banks, OR) picked up the loss, pitching two innings, allowing 10 hits, seven earned runs, and two strikeouts. Natalie Hayes (Brewster, NY) pitched the final two, allowing four earned runs on seven hits, one walk, and a strikeout.
The Bulldogs play their first game of the season at home on March 19th, hosting Fitchburg State University in a double-header at 3:00PM and 5:00PM.
