CLERMONT, Fla. -- Houghton softball produced two strong games on Day 3 of The Spring Games in Clermont, Fla., resulting in a 5-2 loss to St. Mary's (Minn.) and an exciting 7-6 win over Lyndon State (Vt.).

The Highlanders opened the day facing a strong St. Mary's squad and got on the scoreboard first when Tanya Hatton (Greene, NY , Afton ) scored on a single by Toni Kling (Wellsville, NY, Wellsville ). Hatton had reached on a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Alishia Foss (Medina, NY , Medina).

Houghton starter Taylor Sile (Hilton, NY, Hilton ) pitched four strong innings to start the contest, holding St. Mary's to just one hit. But the freshman ran into some trouble in the fifth. The Cardinals scored five runs off five hits, a walk and an error to take control of the contest.

Sile settled down to retire the side in the bottom of the sixth, and the Highlanders were able to add a run in the top of the seventh to close the scoring.

The Highlanders had just three hits in the contest, with two coming from Kling. Sile pitched a complete game in the loss, allowing five runs on six hits. She walked one and struck out one.

In the day's second contest against Lyndon State, the Highlanders got three runs in the bottom of the first and added another in the second to go up 4-0. Starting pitcher Hatton was in a groove, retiring the first 13 batters she faced, But the freshman faced some trouble in the fifth, allowing one run on a single and a triple. The Hornets added another tally in the sixth, using one hit and an error to pull within two runs (4-2).

The Highlanders looked to have things well in hand after scoring twice in the sixth. Sile doubled home Katelyn Cook (Clifton Park, NY , Shenendehowa ), who reached base on a walk.Then Hatton hit a sac fly to bring home Ashley Schenk (Victoria, BC, Pacific Christian ) who had singled earlier in the inning.

Lyndon State found some life as they faced their final three outs. A leadoff single gave them a spark, and after a strikeout, another hit pushed a runner into scoring position. Sile came on in relief with one out and two on, but she hit the first batter she faced to load the bases and gave up a triple to the next batter to bring the score to 6-5. The next hitter grounded out, but the runner on third came home to knot the game at six runs apiece. Sile gave up another single before retiring the last batter on an infield pop-up.

What transpired in the last inning did little to dampen the spirits of the Highlanders, who promptly responded with singles from Kaylee Jentsch (Orchard Park, NY, Orchard Park ) and Bailey Shattell (Syracuse, NY, Faith Heritage ) and a sacrifice that moved the two runners to second and third. Schenk then came to the plate and singled home Jentsch to give Houghton the walk-off win.

Houghton produced 18 hits in the contest, with Schenk leading the way with a 4-for-5 performance. She also drove in two runs. Shattell and Foss each had three hits.

Hatton, who got two RBI at the place, pitched 6.1 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits and striking out four. Sile faced five batters in relief, with two hits and two runs allowed, and picked up the victory.

Houghton returns to play Friday with a game against Ohio Northern at 9 a.m. and a rematch with Lyndon State 11 a.m.