The Stetson softball team dropped its first two contests of the Frank Griffin Classic on Friday afternoon as the Hatters fell 6-5 to Binghamton and then 7-4 against SIUE.
 
Stetson found themselves down early in their first game after giving up a run in the first inning. In the second inning Lauren Hobbs was able to get out of a jam with runners on first and third by striking out the side. The Bearcats tacked on two runs in the third on two solo home runs in to take a 3-run lead. The Hatters struck back in the fourth inning as Gia Napoli gave Stetson their first hit of the game on a single to left. Two batters later Lath Freeman cashed in hitting her first home run as a Hatter bringing the score within one. 
 
The fifth inning was a busy one as Binghamton scored three runs in the top of the inning. Stetson came up in the bottom and Briana Robinson drew a walk and then stole second. Stanfill then drew a walk of her own. Kami Eppley came up to the plate and smacked a ball out to deep center field hitting the wall and bringing around Robinson to score. Addison Foster walked to load the bases and the Bearcats brought in a new pitcher. Gianna Niemeier drew a walk bringing in English who pinch ran for Standfill as the Hatters finished the inning with two runs. 
 
The Hatters down two in the sixth started off with Michelle DiPuma drawing a walk. She stole second and Robinson then drew a walk to put batters on first and second. Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch. Jordan Stanfill came up to bat and found a hole on the right side getting a base hit to right. DiPuma came around to score but Robinson got caught between third and home before getting thrown out. Caitlyn Kulcyski made quick work of the Bearcats in the top of the seventh. Stetson came up to the plate in the bottom of the seventh down 6-5. Napoli started off with a hard single that deflected off the third baseman. She then stole second and Binghampton walked Freeman who had homered earlier in the game. Stetson couldn't tie the game falling 6-5. 
 
Stetson had to regroup as they prepared to take on SIUE in the next game. The first two innings of the game were scoreless, but the Cougars broke the tie with two runs in the top of the third.  In the bottom of the third inning Madelyn Synoracki singled up the middle registering her first collegiate hit in her first collegiate at bat. She then stole second base. Foster and Napoli both drew walks loading the bases with one out. The Hatters couldn't get one across still trailing. The Cougars added on five runs in the top of the fourth. 
 
Even though Stetson was trailing they continued to fight back. In the bottom of the sixth inning Robinson started things off with a pinch hit single and then immediately stole second. Freeman was up next and reached on a fielder's choice before Evette Morgan moved both runners into scoring position on a ground out. Kami Eppley got her second hit of the game, this time a triple on a bullet down the first base line plating two runs. After SIUE changed pitchers Eppley scored on a wild pitch with Annabella McClerren up to bat. McClerren then smoked one out of the ballpark making it 7-4. 
 
Caitlin Mullen shut down the Cougars in the top of the seventh. In the bottom of the seventh, the Hatters loaded the bases with a Niemeier single, a Freeman walk and and Eppley walk but were unable to get them across falling 7-4.
 
The Hatters will look to bounce back on Saturday Feb. 10 for day two of the Frank Griffin Classic. Stetson will take on Binghamton and Boston University at 3:00pm and 5:30pm respectively.