Kissimmee, FL – Continuing its penchant for winning close games, the Clarkson University Softball team swept its third doubleheader in Florida on Tuesday afternoon, defeating Manchester University 11-9 in game one and then taking a 6-1 decision versus Thomas College (ME).

The Golden Knights improved to 9-3 on the season, including a 6-1 mark in games decided by two runs or less. Clarkson faces D'Youville and Albright on Wednesday afternoon.

Sloppy conditions with rain throughout Wednesday did not make for a clean game defensively as Manchester and Clarkson combined for 11 errors in the opener, with the pitching staffs getting dinged for just eight earned run out of the 20 scored.

Clarkson got on the board first with a double from Liz Caggiano scoring Danielle Whitham in the Knights' first at bat of the game, but Manchester scored two in the bottom half of the inning and then three more in the third. Clarkson produced five in the top of the fifth thanks to a two-run double from Raeanna Dunn, a run-scoring single by Caggiano and a Kayla Robert RBI single as well as a run tallied on an error, but Manchester quickly reclaimed the lead with four in the bottom half of the fifth.

The Knights offense kept clicking in the sixth, but was helped considerably by miscues in the field by Manchester. Winn singled home a run, but Clarkson's other three runs came around on errors or fielder's choices and all four runs in the frame were unearned. The Knights picked up one more run in the top of the seventh when Rylee LeBourveau singled to open the inning and then finished her trip around the bases thanks to two more errors by Manchester.

Raeanna Dunn was 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored and two more driven in. Liz Caggiano was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in and Rylee LeBourveau went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Leah Allen picked up the win in relief, allowing just two hits in three innings.

In game two, the Knights received a solid pitching performance from freshman Olivia Zoeller, who tossed a complete game and allowed just a single earned run with nine strikeouts over seven innings of work. Clarkson immediately provided Zoeller with the lead, scoring one in the bottom half of the first inning as Michele Winn scored Danielle Whitham with a sacrifice fly. Clarkson added another run in the bottom of the third as Whitham, Liz Caggiano and Winn strung together three straight hits, with Winn's single up the middle scoring the former for a 2-0 Clarkson lead.

After a home run in the top of the fourth put Thomas on the board, Clarkson pulled away with four tallies in the bottom half of the frame. Sarah Vaccaro led off the bottom of the inning with a home run to center field and three straight hits loaded the bases for Clarkson. Caggiano drew a walk to force in a run and Winn followed with a single up the middle to score two more, making it 6-1. Zoeller retired nine of the final 10 hitters she faced to close out the victory.

Caggiano reached base in four plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with a pair of walks, and Winn was 2-for-4 with four runs driven in. Vaccaro went 2-for-3 with her solo home run, and fellow freshman Kayla Robert was 2-for-3.