KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- For third time at the 2011 Rebel Spring Games, Mount Union's softball team earned a split. The Raiders fell to Simpson (Iowa), 8-0, and then defeated Geneva (Pa.), 4-1, at the Fortune Road Complex on Friday.

Shelby Carmichael (Dalton/Dalton) delivered a pinch-hit, two-run single to lift the Purple Raiders (5-3) in their victory over the Golden Tornadoes. The hit broke a 1-all tie in the fifth inning.

Kristen Gromes (Navarre/Fairless) walked and Bre Willis (Navarre/Fairless) singled to lead off the fifth. After a failed sacrifice bunt attempt by Marissa Earl (Massillon/Massillon Washington), Rachel Jesso (Mount Pleasant, Pa./Mount Pleasant) smacked a single to load the bases.

Jasmine Bentley (Twinsburg/Twinsburg) was then lifted in favor of Carmichael, who plated Willis and Earl with a rope to right field.

The Purple Raiders opened the scoring in the first when Jesso tripled to right-center and then scored on an RBI groundout by Bentley.

Geneva took advantage of a Mount Union error in the second, tying the game at 1-all.

With a 3-1 lead, the Raiders added an insurance run in the sixth. With one out, Sarah Woody (Uniontown/Green) singled and Gromes doubled, setting the stage for an RBI single by Willis.

Jesso and Willis led Mount Union with two hits apiece.

Willis (3-2) was the winning pitcher. She went the distance, allowing two hits and no earned runs while recording four strikeouts and one walk.

In the day's opener, the Raiders committed five errors against Simpson (4-3).

Mara Palombaro (Boardman/Cardinal Mooney) led the offense with two hits.

Rachel McAninch (West Jefferson/West Jefferson) suffered the loss. She threw all six innings, finishing with eight strikeouts and two walks. McAninch allowed 11 hits and two earned runs.

Mount Union will wrap up play in Florida on Saturday when it takes on Kean (N.J.) at 1 p.m. and Westminster (Pa.) at 5.

Simpson (Iowa) 8, Mount Union 0 (Mar 11, 2011 at Kissimmee, Fla.)
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Mount Union......... 000 000  -  0  3  5      (4-3)
Simpson (Iowa)...... 230 003  -  8 11  1      (4-3)
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Mount Union - Rachel McAninch and Mara Palombaro. Simpson (Iowa) - Kacee Arey;
Bryn Johnson(6) and Allie Hock.
Win-Kacee Arey  Loss-Rachel McAninch(1-1)

Mount Union 4, Geneva (Pa.) 1 (Mar 11, 2011 at Kissimmee, Fla.)
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Geneva (Pa.)........ 010 000 0 -  1  2  0      (5-3)
Mount Union......... 100 021 X -  4  9  1      (5-3)
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Geneva (Pa.) - Julie DiLonardo; Ariel Lilly(5) and Leanne Abate. Mount Union -
Bre Willis and Mara Palombaro.

Win-Bre Willis(3-2)  Loss-Julie DiLonardo