BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 | BOX SCORE 3 | BOX SCORE 4 Virginia Beach, VA - Hunter College softball opened up the 2017 season by traveling to the Virgina Wesleyan Beach Blast tournament, falling to Eastern Univeristy, Rochester Institute of Technology, Frostburg State University and Keuka College.

Eastern 6, Hunter 0
The Hawks were limited to just four hit in their season opener, with Samantha Molloy leading the way with two. Victoria Slavik went 1-2 at bat, while Alana Vezza recorded one hit and a walk. 

Freshman pitcher Caroline Bibula pitched for most of the game, allowing eight hits and recording two strike outs.

RIT 8, Hunter 7
The Purple and Gold then suffered a hearthbreaking loss to RIT later in the day 

Trailing 2-0 in the last half of the third Hunter leveled the score when Slavik cleared the right field fence with a two run homer following a single by Bibula. 

In the fourth and down 3-2 the Hawks took a 4-3 lead after Vezza plated Annalise McClellan with a sacrifice fly. Heather Ostrowski then laced a pinch hit to right field to put the Hawks ahead again 4-3. 

Hunter responded one more time with two more runs in the fifth with an RBI walk from McClellan and a HBP from Vezza. 

RIT took a 8-6 lead in the sixth and in the seventh the Hawks rally fell short after Vezza picked up her third RBI of the game on a fielders choice. 

In the circle, freshman Leanna Donahue went the distance giving up only a pair of earned runs while striking out four. Stefanie Abolt scored twice. 

Frostburg State 9, Hunter 0
The Hawks were held to just two hits in the loss to Frostburg State.

Taylor Crofts and McClellan each recorded a hit, while pitcher Diana Ferreira gave up four runs.

Keuka 6, Hunter 1
Victoria Slavik led the way for the Hawks in the loss to Keuka College, going 2-3 with a home run to Hunter on the scoreboard. Stephanie Abolt and Jamie Durso each tallied a hit in the loss. 

Overview
Overall the Hawks found many positives in their opening weekend, highlighted by Slavik batting .500 (4-8), with 2 HR's, 3 RBI, 3 RS, 2 BB's and an outfield throwing assist.

In the circle, freshman Donahue went the distance against RIT giving up only a pair of earned runs in a heartbreaking 8-7 loss while K'ing four. Against Keuka, Donahue pitched 3.1 innings of shutout relief.

After missing all of last season with an injury, Heather Ostrowski delivered a clutch pinch hit RBI single vs. RIT.

Bibula went 3-4 with a HBP and RS against RIT.  She tossed 5.2 innings allowing only three earned runs with two strikeouts against Eastern. She also pitched four innings of relief vs. Frostburg with four strike outs.

Samantha Molloy went 2-3 against Eastern, Alisha Dovicsak went 1-2 with two walks and RS against RIT.  Former high school teammates Jamie Durso (doubled vs Keuka) and Brittney Salvador provided some solid defense at short and second.

In addition, Guzzone and Ashley Yu made their inaugural Hunter appearances. Guzzone pitched 3.2 innings vs Keuka while Hu came in a pinch runner against Eastern.

Vezza had a three RBI game vs RIT, while McClellan reached base four times against RIT with an RBI and RS. Taylor Crofts made some diving catches during the weekend, as Stephanie Abolt scored twice against RIT and went 1-3 against Keuka.

The team returns to action on March 18 when they travel to Lehman College for a doubleheader, beginning at 12 p.m.