FRIDAY'S SCORES
Jacksonville State 7, IPFW 0
Murray State 8, Coppin State 0
Jacksonville State 5, Valparaiso 4
Morehead State 8, Akron 7
SIUE 6, Louisiana Tech 4
SIUE 8, Abilene Christian 0
Alabama 8,
Eastern Kentucky 0 (5)
Eastern Kentucky 4, Houston Baptist 2
Austin Peay 12 Mississippi Valley 5
Saint Louis 13,
Austin Peay 5 (5)
Incarnate Word 3,
Tennessee State 2
Central Arkansas 7,
Tennessee State 0
IUPUI 3,
@Belmont 2 (8)
Stetson 11,
Morehead State 1 (5)
UT Matrin 7, Omaha 3
UT Arlington 8,
UT Maritn 0
Georgia 8,
Murray State 0 (5)
LSU 6,
Eastern Illinois 1
JACKSONVILLE STATE 7, IPFW 0; JACKSONVILLE STATE 5, VALPARAISO 0
MACON, Ga. - Jacksonville State cruised to a 7-0 win over IPFW to open the 2015 softball season on Friday morning and then rallied for a 5-4 win over Valparaiso to sweep a pair of games on the first day of the Mercer Invitational.
In the opener, sophomore Taylor West and junior Casey Akenberger combined to one-hit IPFW, while freshman Emily Woodruff and senior Sara Borders carried the Gamecock offense in the 7-0 win.
West (1-0) struck out six in five innings that saw her allow just one hit, a two-out single in the fifth. Akenberger tossed two perfect frames to close the game.
The second game saw JSU score three runs over the final two innings, including two in the seventh to erase a 4-3 deficit and start the season 2-0.
Against IPFW in the opener, the Gamecocks (2-0) threatened in the first on their first hit of the season, a two-out triple down the right field line by Sara Borders. Ella Denes got under a pitch from Kaitlyn Biere to end the early threat.
The Gamecocks made it count in the third, when walks to Savannah Sloan and Stephanie Lewis set up Woodruff for her first collegiate hit. She laced a 1-1 pitch from Biere into the right centerfield gap to drive in a pair and put JSU up 2-0. RBI singles from Borders and Cadi Oliver made it a 4-0 JSU lead before the Mastodons could get out of the inning.
The Gamecocks tacked another run on in the fourth, an inning that was started by an IPFW error that allowed Savannah Sloan to reach. Woodruff fond the gap in right center again, doubling in Sloan to give JSU the 5-0 advantage. She would later score on a Borders fielder's choice to make it a 6-0 game.
The freshman's third double game in the bottom of the sixth, when she drove a 2-1 Biere pitch into the gap in left center. The fourth RBI of the day made it 7-0 JSU and chased the Mastodons starter from the circle.
Biere (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing seven runs on nine hits and three walks in 5.1 innings of work. Sarah Lazarowich recorded the final two outs in relief.
In the second game of the day, The Gamecocks got on the board first in the second, when a pair of RBI doubles from Oliver and Melanie Steer gave them a 2-0 lead in the second.
The Crusaders came right back, tying the game with a pair of third-inning runs and chasing starter Akenberger from the circle. They used a leadoff single in the fourth to set up an RBI single from Jorgi Calombaris that put JSU down 3-2 after four innings.
JSU tied it in the sixth on a Taylor Sloan single with two outs, but Stephanie Moreno answered with an RBI double in the home half of the inning to put the Crusaders back on top.
Taylor Weissenhofer couldn't find the strike zone in the top of the seventh, when she walked Steer, Jamie McGuire and Oliver to load the bases for pinch hitter Brooke Carvey. She drew the fourth-straight walk in the inning to tie the game and then Sloan's sac fly put the Gamecocks on top for the first time since the third inning.
The Crusaders had one more threat in the seventh, putting runners on the corners with one out, but Logan Green got Sam Stewart to ground into a double play to end it.
Logan Green (1-0) earned the win after surrendering two runs on six hits and a walk in 4.2 innings of relief work. Akenberger allowed two runs on five hits in 2.1 innings.
Weissenhofer (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing five runs on six hits in 6.1 innings in the circle. She struck out five but walked 10 in the loss.
The Gamecocks will face tournament host Mercer at 11:15 a.m. CT on Saturday before beginning bracket play later in the day.
MURRAY STATE 8, COPPIN STATE 0; GEORGIA 8, MURRAY STATE 0
ATHENS, Ga. - The Murray State softball team opened its 2015 season with a split on the opening day of the 8th Annual Red & Black Showcase Friday at Jack Turner Stadium in Athens, Georgia. The Racers kicked-off the day with an 8-0 five-inning win over Coppin State, but fell to host 10th-ranked Georgia, 6-0.
Game 1 - Murray St. 8, Coppin St. 0 (5 Inn.)
In the opener, the Racers (2-0) started off with a huge five run first inning that began with a leadoff hit by Shelbey Miller. After Alexa Becker and Jessica Twaddle were hit by a pitch and were walked, respectively, Maggie Glass put Murray State on the board by drawing a RBI walk.
Becker would go on to score on an RBI single from Mallory Young, followed by a fielder’s choice from Erika Downey that allowed Twaddle to score and put MSU up 3-0. After Downey swiped a base, Jocelynn Rodgers drove in Glass and Downey with an RBI single to round of the first inning scoring.
In the fourth, Miller led off the frame again with a hit, then stole her second and third bases of the contest. Mo Ramsey drove in Miller with a single in the next at bat and then advanced to third on a throwing error by Coppin State (0-2). Alexa Becker capped the scoring the frame with her first hit of the day to score Ramsey from third.
In the fifth, Mallory Richardson began the inning with a walk, then stole second and advanced to third on a single from Erica Howard. The game came to a conclusion when Miller came up her third hit of the game to drive in Richardson and end the game via the eight-run rule.
CheyAnne Gaskey threw four hitless innings for the Racers allowing just two baserunners, via a walk and an error, and striking out four. Haven Campbell closed out the game for Murray State and allowed no runs on just one hit over one inning. Despite three baserunners, Murray State faced the minimum number of batters in the game, thanks to heads-up defense that included throwing out a would be base stealer and turning two double plays.
Game 2 – Georgia 8, Murray St. 0 (6 Inn.)
In game two, the Bulldogs proved why they are ranked as the 10th best team in the nation, as they scored four runs in the first two innings and never looked back, taking the game 8-0 in six innings. The Bulldogs outhit Murray State, 13-1, in the contest, with the lone hit for MSU coming in the form of a single from Jessica Twaddle in the fourth.
However, there were bright spots for the Racers as they have now turned at least two double plays in each of their two games. Murray State has already turned five double plays in 2015, compared to just 16 in all of 2014. Twaddle played a big role in those five double plays as well, turning an unassisted double play in each of the two games.
J.J. Francis took the loss for Murray State by allowing four runs on seven hit with one strikeout over 2.0 innings to fall to 0-1 on the season. Mason Robinson entered the game in relief of Francis and tossed the final 3.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits with two strikeouts.
The Racers will return to Jack Turner Stadium on Saturday for two more games in the Red & Black Showcase. MSU will begin the day by taking on Illinois at 10:30 a.m. CST, followed by a date with Winthrop at 6:30 p.m. CST.
MOREHEAD STATE 8, AKRON 7; STETSON 11, MOREHEAD STATE 1
DELAND, Fla. -- The Morehead State softball team split a pair of games on Friday in the opening day of the Stetson Lead-Off Classic. The Eagles rallied to post an 8-7 victory over Akron in the afternoon contest at Wilson Field, but suffered an 11-1 defeat to the host Hatters in the five-inning nightcap.
The Ohio Valley Conference Eagles and Mid-American Conference Zips are both 1-1 on the season. Stetson, which competes in the Atlantic Sun Conference, improves to 1-0. Big Ten member Michigan State won both of its Friday contests, while Atlantic 10 Conference foe Rhode Island is now 0-1.
Morehead State wraps up its portion of the season-opening tournament with two games on Saturday. The Eagles are slated to face Rhode Island at 10 a.m. ET and Michigan State at 2 p.m. The weekend event, in the Sunshine State, features five programs playing a total of 11 contests in three days.
Akron jumped out to a 7-0 advantage after two innings in the afternoon affair, while Stetson built an 8-0 cushion after two frames in the nightcap. MSU plated seven runs on seven hits in the sixth inning against the Zips, but couldn't make it two comebacks in the same day versus the Hatters.
Junior first baseman Dana Hutchins and freshman designated player Lindsey Ward highlighted Morehead State's big inning against Akron. Hutchins smashed a two-run double to pull the Eagles within one, while Ward launched a two-run homer to give MSU a lead it never relinquished.
Right-hander Mackenzie Grossmann earned the win in her Morehead State debut. She yielded two runs, two hits and four walks while striking out six in seven innings of relief.
Freshman right-hander Chelsea Hostetler, who allowed just one run, one walk and three hits in four innings out of the bullpen, earned the win for Stetson. Akron freshman right-hander Paige McMenemy and Morehead State sophomore right-hander Megan Tymorek were pinned with the losses.
SIUE 6, LOUISIANA TECH 4; SIUE 8, ABILENE CHRISTIAN 0
RUSTON, La. – SIUE softball started the 2015 season on a high note with a pair of victories at the Lady Techster Invitational.
The Cougars blanked Abilene Christian 8-0 in six innings and defeated host Louisiana Tech 6-4. It is the first time SIUE has won its first two games of the season in the NCAA Division I era.
Haley Chambers and Baylee Douglass combined for a two-hitter against Abilene Christian. Chambers needed 54 pitches in five innings of work for her first win of the season. Douglass threw a perfect sixth inning.
SIUE's offense made its presence felt right away. After stranding the bases loaded in the first inning, the Cougars shrugged it off and scored four runs in the second inning.
Chambers picked up the game-winning RBI when she drew a walk with the bases loaded. Allison Smiley unleashed a bases-clearing double to the gap in left field to put the team up 4-0.
Catcher Amy Hunt picked up her first RBI of the season with a single that drove home Rachel Keller in the fifth inning. Keller originally reached on a double with one out.
SIUE, playing as the home team, extended the lead to eight with three more in the bottom of the sixth. Smiley provided a walk-off double that scored both Chambers and Jordan LaFave. Smiley finished with a career-best five RBIs.
SIUE found itself down by four runs after three innings against Louisiana Tech but didn't find any reason for panic.
Chambers provided the big bat in the five-run fifth inning against Louisiana Tech. She blasted a three-run homer, just the second in her career and finished the day with a team-leading four hits.
The Cougars' rally handed the lead back to SIUE sophomore starter Alexis Kohrs, who yielded just three hits in four innings. Douglass, a freshman, shut down the Techsters over the final three innings for her first career save.
Rebecca Gray also had two RBI hits for the Cougars against the Techsters. An RBI single was part of SIUE's five-run fourth. The Cougar senior outfielder added an RBI double in the sixth.
SIUE continues play in the Lady Techster Invitational Saturday. The Cougars face Missouri State in a 1:30 p.m. game and Louisiana-Monroe at 8:15 p.m. The tournament concludes Sunday for the Cougars with an 11:15 a.m. game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
AUSTIN PEAY 12, MISSISSIPPI STATE 5; SAINT LOUIS 13, AUSTIN PEAY 5
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Austin Peay State University started the 2015 season off with a bang, Friday at the Mississippi State Bulldog Kickoff Classic, by defeated Mississippi Valley 12-5 before falling in the nightcap to Saint Louis, 13-5.
Austin Peay (1-1) had three innings where it scored three-or-more run against Mississippi Valley (0-2), starting with a three-run first highlighted by a two-run double by Christiana Gable.
It would be 4-1 heading into the top of the fifth inning, when the Lady Govs added three more runs, with Laurel Burroughs ripping a double-run double to key the inning.
Mississippi Valley answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning, to make it 7-3, but Austin Peay responded with its biggest inning of the game – scoring five times – with Morgan Hoeg, Burroughs and Gable each driving in one run, while Savanna Oliver closing out the Lady Govs scoring with a two-run double to make it 12-3.
Mississippi Valley would add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth for the 12-5 final.
Gable and Brower would collect three hits each, while Hooper and Lake picked up two hits each.
Natalie Ayala (1-0) got the complete-win, in the first APSU start, recording four strikeout and two walks.
The nightcap didn’t turn out as well for the Lady Govs, with Saint Louis sending 13 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning, scoring eight runs on five hits and three walk by Hooper to take a 8-1 lead.
Burroughs would drive in a run in the top of the second, but the Billikens answered with four more runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 12-2.
The score would remain that way until the top of the fifth inning, with Gable blasting a three-run shot over the left-center field fence to cut the margin to 12-5.
But Saint Louis was able to push across a run in the bottom of the fifth to end the game under the eight-run mercy rule.
Overall, Gable would finish the day 4-for-5 at the plate, driving in seven.
The Lady Govs continue play in the Bulldog Kickoff Classic on Saturday, facing tournament host Mississippi State at 2 p.m., followed by a rematch with Mississippi Valley at 7 p.m.
INCARNATE WORD 3, TENNESSEE STATE 2; CENTRAL AKRANSAS 7, TENNESSEE STATE 0
LAFAYETTE, La. - Tennessee State softball began the 2015 season with a pair of loses at the Louisiana Classic in Lafayette on Friday. The Tigers valiant comeback attempt in the opener fell short, 3-2, to Incarnate Word. In the second game, TSU battled Central Arkansas for six innings before the Bears were able to pull away in the final inning gaining a 7-0 victory. The Tigers start the season 0-2, while the two Southland Conference opponents each move to 1-0.
Amber Galyon took the loss in her collegiate debut as she scattered six hits and three walks through seven innings. The freshman pitcher was touched for three runs, one earned, as she fell to 0-1.
A Tiger error extended the first inning allowing IWU to jump ahead on two unearned runs off a sacrifice fly and a home run by Shelbi Swenson. Galyon would keep the Cardinals off the board until the fifth inning. The lead increased to 3-0 as IWU pieced together two infield singles, a walk and a hit-by-pitch to push the lobe earned run across home plate.
Cardinals ace Kristen Hebert went the distance to improve to 1-0. The Tigers put a runner on base in each of the first six innings, with the exception of the sixth. TSU would threaten Hebert and the Cardinals in the bottom half of the seventh as they pulled within one run.
Joselynn Yates led off the inning with her second hit of the game and scored from first on a double to right center off the bat of freshman Cariona Hassell. The Tigers loaded the bases as Kate Morris reached on an error and a single by Tayler Shimizu. With one out, Savannah Womack lifted a ball to right field, allowing Hassell to score and pinch runner, Chelsea Buchanan, to advance to third.
Two pitches later, Shimizu swiped second base putting the tying run 60-feet away and the winning run in scoring position. Transfer Danica Gleason gave TSU a chance to tie the game with a soft-slap towards second, but was called out on a bang-bang play at first.
In game two, Womack took to the circle and kept working herself out of trouble as she stranded eight UCA runners through the first four innings. The Bears took a 1-0 lead in the fifth with a two out triple down the right field line, just out of the reach of a diving Shimizu.
UCA’s hurler, Kaylie Studioso, held the Tigers in check as she retired the first 14 batters she faced. Hassell broke through with a single in the fifth. The game remained 1-0 heading to the bottom of the sixth. Shimizu led off the inning with a single just inside the foul line in right. The senior picked up her second stolen base of the day, giving TSU its first runner in scoring position in game two.
Shimizu moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Gleason, but was caught on the next pitch in a squeeze attempt. Shimizu tried to stay alive between third and home, but was eventually tagged out after the fifth throw of the run down.
UCA took advantage of the moment swing and added six runs in the top of the seventh to pull away from the Tigers. Studioso (1-0) earned the win on a two-hit shutout, while striking out six.
Womack fell to 0-1 in her TSU pitching debut, as she surrendered eight hits and seven walks. The sophomore transfer was able to fan seven Bears.
On the day, Hassell, Yates and Shimizu each gathered two hits apiece, while Courtney Gearlds, Gleason and Morris each notched one. Gearlds and Hassell were the only Tigers to earn extra base hits, both with doubles.
TSU will travel to Baton Rouge to continue play as part of the Tiger Classic. Saturday’s schedule opens with a 10:00am contest with Memphis, followed by a showdown with No. 19 LSU at 3:00 p.m. Both games can be heard on tsutigers.com.
IUPUI 3, BELMONT 2
NASHIVLLE, Tenn. - -- Belmont softball wasn't able to hold on Friday evening as IUPUI rallied for a 3-2, eight inning victory in Rose Park's opening contest of the 2015 Music City Classic.
The opposing pitchers came out dueling as neither team managed to light up the scoreboard throughout the first three and a half innings of play.
That changed in the bottom of the fourth, however, when junior Jessica Wilson (Alvin, Tex.) drove home senior Kat Hollingsworth (Carrolton, Tex.) with a two-out double to left field moments after Hollingsworth took base on a walk.
The Bruins' slim advantage was in jeopardy in the top of the sixth inning as an IUPUI walk placed runners on first and second base with no outs.
BU escaped the jam largely due to the heroics of rookie shortstop Jess Andree (Darien, Ill.) who turned a terrific double play while the following batter grounded out to third base.
With their backs firmly against the wall, IUPUI (1-0) soon proved they weren't going to leave Rose Park without a fight as the
Jaguars responded in the top of the seventh inning as a single shot to centerfield from senior catcher Eryn Dillon tied up the contest.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) singled to right field to extend the Bruins hopes of pulling out the final inning victory in dramatic fashion.
That hope was soon vanquished on the following at-bat after Andree struck out swinging, sending the game into extra innings.
Due to the international tiebreaker rule, IUPUI's Morgan Schlobohm was placed on second base to begin the eighth inning.
A subsequent pair of back-to-back sacrifice fly outs to centerfield scored a pair of runs as the Jaguars pulled ahead, 3-1.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Belmont's chances of a rally of their own were dwindling.
An RBI single from BU's Katie Clancy (Pasadena, Calif.) drove in Jess Andree, who was placed at second base due to the international tiebreaker.
BU's rally attempt was thwarted on the following play as a ground out by Amy Zeronion (Pasadena, Calif.) ended the contest in IUPUI's favor, 3-2.
Despite the loss, Belmont's Taylor Moon (Vestavia, Ala.) only allowed a pair of earned runs off seven hits while recording three strikeouts in eight innings of play.
IUPUI's Brooke Boetjer (1-0) was awarded with the victory as the junior allowed a single earned run off four hits while striking out five Bruins on the afternoon.
Belmont (0-1) returns to action tomorrow for a pair of contests on the second day of the 2015 Music City Classic. The Bruins are set to host South Dakota (0-1) at 2 p.m. followed by a 4:30 p.m. contest against UMKC (0-1).
UT MARTIN 7, OMAHA 3; UT ARLINGTON 8, UT MARITN 0
HAMMOND, La. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team wasted little time finding big time performances from both its youth and experience as the Skyhawks smashed two home runs in route to a 7-3 victory over Nebraska-Omaha before falling to UT Arlington 8-0 in five innings. The pair of games were part of the Tangi Tourism Lion Classic hosted by Southeastern Louisiana.
The Skyhawks (1-1) saw senior pitcher Casey Vincent not only get it done at the position she has called home for the past four seasons, but tallied her first career home run in the batter’s box to highlight the opening day of the 2015 season.
Along with the offensive outburst of Vincent it was freshman Alicia Hansen who made a big impact in her first game as a Skyhawk. The state of Ohio’s all-time home run leader bashed a two-run home run in the victory over Omaha.
Four pitchers saw action for the Skyhawks, led by the play of Vincent who notched the team’s first win of the season with a complete game. Elizabeth Wiegand, Brooke Kennedy and Hanna Jones also saw action inside the circle.
UT Martin 7, Nebraska-Omaha 3
The Skyhawks wasted little time getting on the board to open the new season. The Ohio Valley Conference’s third ranked offensive program last season struck for four runs in the opening half inning alone.
Senior Kelsey Dixon led off the inning with a walk before reigning OVC Freshman of the Year Carly Gonzales reached on a sacrifice attempt which led to an error. The duo would both move into scoring position on the ensuing play via a passed ball with zero outs on the board. After Lauren Smith would reach base following being struck by a pitch, the game was in the hands of Vincent. Vincent would respond to the pressure with not only her first career home run, but a grand slam which would give the Skyhawks an early 4-0 advantage.
Vincent would face her first moment of adversity within the circle in the bottom of the second inning. A pair of singles and a walk would load the bases with just one out. Vincent would prove her grit to close out the inning following a swinging strikeout and an innocent force out at third base.
Omaha would get within striking distance in the bottom of the fourth inning, cutting the UT Martin advantage in half. After a leadoff walk, back-to-back doubles by the No. 9 and 1 hitters would plate a pair of runs.
The Skyhawks would strike back in the following inning. After loading the bases with no outs, the Skyhawks would get two quick outs via force outs at the plate. With the bases still juiced, senior Lindsey Feigl would show veteran patience by drawing a walk which would result in Vincent crossing the plate to give the Skyhawks a 5-2 lead.
UT Martin would land the final knockout punch in the top of the seventh inning despite holding a three run lead. Kenzi Tate would tally her second base hit of the game with a single to left before being caught trying to swipe second. Vincent would follow by keeping her perfect night at the plate with a walk, setting up Hansen for her moment in the dusk. With a runner on first, Hansen would blast a two run home run to right center to cement the Skyhawks’ season opening victory.
Vincent (1-0) was solid in her first appearance of the season, notching her 33rd career complete game. She allowed eight hits in the opener while allowing just three earned runs. Her afternoon ended with four strikeouts and four walks.
UT Arlington 8, UT Martin 0 (Five innings)
Things would not go as smoothly in Game Two for the Skyhawks as they were held to just two base hits while committing a pair of errors.
UT Arlington jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning. Mya Anderson had the first of her team-high three hits to lead the Mavericks to score in the opening frame. Anderson would lace a single to right center before Meagan Michele would bring another run around to score on the following at-bat.
Anderson would continue her powerful day in the fourth inning by taking the first pitch of the inning over the centerfield wall. The Mavericks wouldn’t be done scoring in the inning as her partner in crime Michele would tally a shot of her own in the same vicinity.
A pair of errors would continue the onslaught for the Mavericks who would add another four runs to expand their lead to 8-0 following four innings of play.
Freshman Kayla Donaldson would shut down the Skyhawks the rest of the way while allowing just two hits en route to her first career victory. Donaldson tallied four strikeouts while issuing just two walks in five innings of work.
The Skyhawks would find base hits from Kacie Daugherty and Jodie Duncan in the game, the first of their respective Skyhawk careers.
Wiegand (0-1) would get the start, tossing just three innings of work. Wiegand allowed four hits and four earned runs while tallying a pair of strikeouts and walks each. Jones appeared in relief, seeing her Skyhawk debut last just 0.2 innings while giving up five base hits and four runs, despite having just one run earned. Kennedy would close out the game, striking out three while remaining perfect through 1.1 innings of action.
UT Martin will return to action in Day 2 of the Lion Classic with a pair of games on Saturday, Feb. 7. The Skyhawks will take on Alcorn State at 12:30 p.m. before playing host Southeastern Louisiana at 3 p.m.
LSU 6, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1
BATON ROUGE, La. – Eastern Illinois softball opened the 2015 campaign with a tough 6-1 loss at #19-ranked Louisiana State during Friday (Feb. 6) evening play at the Tiger's own weekend Classic in front of a crowd of 1,411.
Panthers will continue busy weekend action on Saturday and Sunday, heading to Lafayette, La. to partake in the Louisiana-Lafayette Classic, as EIU will face the #9-ranked Ragin' Cajuns and Incarnate Word in a pair of games.
Four different Panthers tallied a hit in the loss, with sophomore Hannah Rachor securing the lone RBI in the top of the sixth frame as she helped to plate senior Bailey O'Dell from third base.
Juniors Haylee Beck and April Markowski joined O'Dell with respective singles in the contest.
Newcomer Jessica Wireman earned the start in the circle, fanning a pair of Tiger batters and allowing just one earned run behind six full innings. Fellow freshman Michelle Rogers came in relief in the final frame to an additional strikeout.
The Tigers jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage with single scores through four innings of play, before erupting for three additional scores in the bottom of the fifth. The home squad led EIU in hits, 10-to-four, while the Panthers committed two more miscues than LSU.
Panthers play ULL at 3 p.m. tomorrow afternoon prior to facing Incarnate Word at 5:30 p.m.