NAPLES, Fla. - The Martin Luther College softball team split the first day of its spring Florida trip on Friday. The Knights lost 10-8 to Albion in game one before topping Drew 6-3 in game two.

Albion 10, MLC 8

A late comeback attempt fell just short as the Knights lost the opener 10-8.

Albion took advantage of four MLC errors to score six unearned runs in the game on the way to a 10-2 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.

In their final chance to bat, the Knights rallied to score six runs in the seventh inning and brought the tying run to the plate before Albion was finally able to close the game for good.

Morgan Palubicki (0-4) took the loss after allowing four runs (one earned) in four innings as the Knights' starting pitcher. Mykenna Schneiter allowed six runs (three earned) in three innings of relief.

Brittany Denn led MLC with three hits and scored a pair of runs. Kayla Rosenbaum and Madison Ott each drove in two runs at the plate.

MLC 6, Drew 3

The Knights rode a complete game effort by starting pitcher Rebecca Pruss (1-1) to a 6-3 win over Drew in game two.

MLC jumped in front 3-0 in the first frame thanks to three straight hits by Rosenbaum, Denn and Elena Hoffman. The Knights then added three more runs in the fifth inning thanks to hits by Hoffman, Brett Burger, Samantha Schoch and Allison Grunke.

That would be more than enough offense for Pruss, who allowed the three runs (two earned) on eight hits while striking out two in seven innings to earn her first win of the season.

Rosenbaum, Hoffman, Schoch and Burger each finished with two hits to lead the Knights. 

MLC improved to 1-5 on the season with the split, and will return for its second day of action on the Florida trip tomorrow (Saturday, March 9). The Knights will start the day against Kenyon at 11 a.m., and will follow that with a game against Alfred State at 1 p.m. (all times local).