CLERMONT, FL - The softball team opened up their 2011 campaign in Florida Tuesday afternoon but failed to come out on top during their first two affairs, falling to both Fitchburg State University and Franciscan University.

After leading from the outset, the Crimson Eagles dropped their first game of the season by a 6-4 margin as Fitchburg State logged six unanswered runs over the fourth and fifth frames. PBU led 4-0 after two innings but struggled to keep their bats going, tallying just five total hits during the loss.

Rookie Kiersten Waltz had two of the the squad's hits on the day, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs during her first ever collegiate contest. Sophomore Sarah Hollenback drilled a triple in the losing effort.

In game two, the Crimson Eagles watched Franciscan University batter 13 runs during a 13-3 loss to the Barons. Waltz paced PBU once again with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate while Sara Poole and Kim Martin both finished 2-for-2.

The softball team will return to the diamond on Wednesday, taking on SUNY Plattsburgh at 3:30 pm before wrapping up their trip down south against Concordia University at 5:30 pm.