ORLANDO – The Truman State Softball spring break trip began with a split of a pair of games in Florida. The Bulldogs walked off for a 2-1 win over Southwest Minnesota State in the opener on a single by Cameryn Patterson and just couldn't get the key hit in a 4-2 loss to Walsh (Ohio) in the nightcap.
 
The Bulldogs return to the fields tomorrow afternoon against St. Thomas Aquinas College and Wayne (Mich.) State.
 
Truman State 2, Southwest Minnesota State 1
Both teams had zeros on the scoreboard but opportunities through the first four and a half innings but the drama picked up and the Bulldogs walked off with a 2-1 win in their spring break opener.
 
Truman State loaded the bases with one-out in the third when Alivia Daniels knocked a single up the middle and Macy Taylor reached on a bunt single. An error at second during Cassie Smith's at bat loaded them up but the Bulldogs couldn't push across a run as the next two hitter popped out and struck out.
 
The Mustangs moved a runner into scoring position in both the fourth and fifth inning. A two-out single was left stranded in the fourth while in the fifth a runner at second was left standing when Annabel Zimmer got a big strikeout on a full count pitch.
 
Callie Unrein started the Bulldog fifth with a single and went to second on a sac bunt by Nina Fenasci. Smith hit a two out double to give Truman the 1-0 lead.
 
Southwest Minnesota bounced back with their first two reaching to start the sixth and on a sac bunt play, an error allowed the tying run to score. A walk loaded the bases but Zimmer was able to retire the next two hitters without allowing a run to score.
 
The Bulldogs had runners on second and third with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth but back to back caught looking third strikes and a fly out preserved the tie to the seventh.
 
The drama moved to the seventh as the Mustangs drew a leadoff walk and moved the runner to third on a sac bunt and infield groundout. Zimmer needed three pitches to record her fourth strikeout of the game to end the threat.
A two-out single by Smith started the final at bat for Truman. Emily Eberwine kept the inning alive with an infield single, moving Smith up to second back. Cameryn Patterson had two strikes but laced a single up the middle scoring Smith for the walk-off win.
 
Zimmer went the distance allowing no earned runs and striking out four to pick up the victory.
 
Walsh 4, Truman State 2
The Bulldogs stranded nine runners and couldn't get the clutch hit in their 4-2 loss to Walsh.
Brieanna Klein put the 'Dogs on the board first with a solo home run in the fourth. The inning continued with Truman loading the bases with one out but a shallow fly out followed by another fly ball out ended the innings with the ducks on the pond.
 
The Cavaliers tied the game in their half of the fourth inning.
 
Alex Beard hit a one-out single in the fifth and Klein followed with an RBI single to left that brought in pinch runner Macy Taylor from second.
 
After a passed ball tied the game in the bottom of the frame, Walsh would go on top using a bases loaded walk followed by a hit by pitch.
 
Truman had runners at first and third in the sixth but lost a base runner on a caught stealing.
 
In the seventh, back-to-back singles by Patterson and Beard started the inning and a one-out error loaded the sacks again. Walsh survived when Lauren Stade hit into a game ending line-drive double play.