FRIDAY'S SCORES
UNCG 6,
Tennessee Tech 3
#15 Tennessee 10,
Tennessee Tech 0 (6)
Jacksonville State 12, Aalbama State 1
Jacksonville State 7, Central Arkansas 0
SIUE 10, Grambling 0 (5)
SIUE 4, Northwestern State 1
Saint Louis 1,
Morehead State 0
Morehead State 15, South Carolina State 2 (5)
@Belmont 6, UMBC 3
@Belmont 9, UMKC 4
UT Martin 12, Nevada 4
Tennessee State 9, Jarvis Christian 0
Murray State 9, Mercer 0
Murray State 9, Portland State 1
Eastern Illinois 6, Detroit 2
UNCG 6, TENNESSEE TECH 3; TENNESSEE 10, TENNESSEE TECH 0
STATESBORO, Ga. - The first day of action for the Tennessee Tech softball team saw the Golden Eagles have a tough time coming up with timely hits on Friday as Tech dropped a 6-3 decision to UNC Greensboro, then a six-inning, 10-0 loss to No. 15 Tennessee at the Eagle Round Robin at Georgia Southern.
The Golden Eagles (0-2) were able to collect home runs from Alyssa Richards and Sarah Freels among their six hits against the Spartans, but it wasn't enough to overcome a six-run effort for UNCG on nine hits.
Leigh Ellen Thomas (L, 0-1) took her first loss of the season, working 2 1/3 innings as she allowed four earned runs on six hits, while striking out three. Taylor Waldrop pitched the final 3 2/3 innings in relief, allowing two earned run on three hits, while walking one and striking out three.
Gabrielle Cubbage led the Spartans with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate, driving in three runs, including a two-run shot to left in the bottom of the fourth.
Alicia Bazonski pitched her way to the victory, allowing two runs – one earned – on four hits as she walked one and struck out four.
Tech left five runners on during the opening contest, then six more in the day's second contest against Tennessee.
Against the Lady Vols, the Golden Eagles were only able to collect two hits as Hallie Davis and Callen Griffin collected safeties against UT starter Caylan Arnold, who worked five innings as she allowed one walk and struck out five.
Tech starter Danielle Liberatore gave up seven runs – six earned – on eight hits, walking four and striking out six.
Meghan Gregg led the Lady Vols with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate, driving in five runs.
Tech continues play in the Eagle Round Robin on Saturday as it takes on Middle Tennessee at 12:30 p.m. and host Georgia Southern at 4:30 p.m.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 12, ALABAMA STATE 1; JACKSONVILLE STATE 7, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 0
MOBILE, Ala. - The Jacksonville State softball team started its 2017 season off on the right note, sweeping a pair of games at the Sand Dollar Classic at South Alabama's Jaguar Field on Opening Day.
The Gamecocks (2-0) rolled to a 12-1 win over Alabama State in the first game of the year before disposing of Central Arkansas, 7-0 in game two. The win over the Hornets came via the mercy rule in five innings, while the second win of the season saw reigning Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year Whitney Gillespie dominate the Bears.
Jax State held opposing batters to just four hits in 12 combined innings of work in the circle and allowed just one run over the two wins. Gillespie picked up where she left off in her stellar sophomore campaign of 2016, striking out 10 and allowing just one hit in six shutout innings against the Bears. The junior from Pelham also had a solid day at the plate, going 3-for-7 with three RBI.
Senior Taylor Sloan led the Gamecocks with six RBI on the day, driving in four of those in the second game. The big swing for the Warrior native was a three-run triple in the sixth inning that broke open the game against UCA.
Fellow senior Stephanie Lewis drove in four runs on the day, three of which came on her three-run homer in the win over Alabama State.
The first game pitted the two NCAA Tournament teams from 2016 against each other, and it didn't take long for JSU to take control. Jax State plated seven runs in the second inning and coasted from that point, ending the game after five innings.
JSU scored its seven second-inning runs on five hits and a pair of ASU errors, with the highlight coming on a two-run single to right by Gillespie. The big inning started with a Lewis single that was followed by a couple of punctuations on a pair of comeback stories.
Senior Cadi Oliver, who missed most of 2016 with an injury and received a medical redshirt to come back for a fifth season at JSU, walked in her first at bat in 11 months. That set up the first collegiate at bat for junior Taylor Rogers, who was forced to step away from softball after high school due to knee injuries.
Rogers delivered in her first at bat in over three years, driving a single to right that loaded the bases and set up an Anna Snider walk that got JSU on the board. The walk resulted in Snider's first career RBI in a Gamecock uniform.
The other big inning came in the fifth, when Lewis' homer highlighted a five-run frame that gave the Gamecocks a 12-0 lead. The Hornets got one run in the fifth to put the final score on the board.
Senior Taylor West (1-0) was stellar in her season debut, tossing three hitless innings to earn the win. The Anniston native struck out four before making way for sophomore Faith Sims. The Cordova product allowed just one run over two frames.
Vanessa Bradford suffered the loss for ASU after allowing 10 runs, seven earned, on six hits in 3.1 innings of work.
The second game saw JSU give Gillespie more run support than she needed. The Gamecocks got on the board with a run in the third on Sloan's sac fly to center. They got one more in the fifth on an RBI single by Lewis and then scored five in the sixth to break the game open.
Gillespie (1-0) faced just 21 batters in the win, while freshman Alexus Jimmerson struck out two in a hitless seventh in her collegiate debut.
Kayla Gomness (0-2) took the loss for UCA, allowing seven runs on 10 hits in 5.1 innings in the circle.
The Gamecocks continue play in the Sand Dollar Classic on Saturday, when they face UCA again at 3 p.m. before taking on the host Jaguars at 5:30 p.m.
SIUE 10, GRAMBLING 0; SIUE 4, NORTHWESTERN STATE 1
MONROE, La. - SIUE softball was victorious twice Friday on opening day of the 2017 season, earning a five-inning, 10-2 triumph over Grambling and a 4-1 win over Northwestern State.
SIUE continues the Mardi Gras Classic Saturday with two more games, facing Prairie View at 1 p.m. and host Louisiana Monroe at 7 p.m.
The Cougar offense roughed up opponent pitching for 14 runs on 14 hits.
Freshman Kalei Kaneshiro made her collegiate debut with a start at third base. The right-handed hitter blasted a solo home run against Northwestern State.
Kaneshiro, who also had an RBI in game one, was excited for first official game as a Cougar. The Pearl City, Hawaii, native already knows she has to work hard to even be in SIUE's lineup.
Allison Smiley led SIUE with three hits while Kaneshiro, Zoe Schafer, Alyssa Heren and Haley Chambers-Book each had two for the day.
SIUE erupted for six runs in the third and four runs in the fourth against Grambling. Kaneshiro, batting seventh in the lineup, ripped the first hit of the season with a double to right field in the second inning.
Cougar pitchers Ashley Koziol and Haley Chambers both struck out 11 batters in their respective games. Koziol had a no-hitter in the fifth inning against Grambling.
Chambers inched her way to the school record for career strikeouts. She needs four more to pass Erika Taylor (2008-11) who finished her collegiate career with 737 strikeouts.
In the Northwestern State game, SIUE's offense scored single tallies in the first two innings. Tess Eby hit a sacrifice fly to drive home Heren in the first inning. Sarah Lopesilvero added an RBI single in the second.
Schafer recorded her second RBI of the day in the fifth inning. Kaneshiro's home run capped the scoring in the sixth.
SAINT LOUIS 1, MOREHEAD STATE 0; MOREHEAD STATE 15, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE 2
KENNESAW, Ga. - Morehead State softball (1-1) split the first two games of the season on Friday afternoon as they erupted for 15 runs in a 15-2 win versus South Carolina State after falling to Saint Louis, 1-0.
In the second game against South Carolina State, the Eagles got RBI doubles from junior Robyn Leighton and senior Karly Thompson in the first inning to build a 3-0 lead.
Morehead State followed with seven runs in the second inning, highlighted by Leighton's grand slam, as they cruised to 15-2 victory.
Leighton finished the game a single short of the cycle, going 3-for-3 with seven runs batted in.
Sophomore Aubrey Bennett also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, while Thompson went 1-for-2 with three RBI. Junior Kylie Holton went 1-for-2 with a solo home run.
Sophomore Allison Rager picked up her first win of the season, allowing two hits and unearned runs, while striking out four.
The Eagles finished with 15 run off of 11 hits.
In the first game, junior Chelsea McManaway struck out nine, allowing five hits and just one earned run, but the Eagles managed just one hit as they fell 1-0.
The Eagles continue play in Kennesaw, Ga. tomorrow afternoon at 5:30 p.m. ET when they face host Kennesaw State.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 6, DETROIT 2
ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Eastern Illinois softball team started their 2017 spring regular season off with a bang downing Detroit 6-2 Friday night.
The Panthers scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to secure the victory as Michelle Rogers recorded the win on the mound going five innings and allowing only one earned run.
Junior Tori Johnson had a massive night going 2-for-3 at the plate with two triples and two RBIs. Johnson's two triples marks the first time a Panther has accomplished such a feat since Kylie Bennett in last year's season opener against IUPUI.
Kayla Bear opened the 2017 season ripping a ground-rule double in her lead-off at-bat, eventually stealing third. Freshman Mia Davis brought Bear around to score in her first career at-bat as a Panther singling through the left side to put EIU in front 1-0 in the top of the first.
Davis eventually made her way to third after stealing second and advancing on a ground out. Johnson earned the RBI on the next at-bat hitting her first triple of the game to left field to bring Davis around and give the Panthers a 2-0 lead.
The Titans got on the board in the bottom of the first as Jordan Manno hit a lead off single to center field. Mann would steal second and come around to score off an error during the next at-bat to make it 2-1 in favor of EIU at the end of the first inning.
Detroit tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the second inning following a single from Sydney Pollock to bring around Edrienne Williams from second base.
The Panthers reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth inning following a lead off single from Haley Mitchell. Amber Matchett came in to pinch run for Mitchell advancing to second off a sacrifice bunt from Johnson. Amber Toenyes earned the game-winning RBI hitting a double to left field to bring Matchett in from second base and put EIU on top 3-2.
EIU broke the game open in the top of the seventh as Taylor Monahan stepped up to the plate reaching on a two-out bunt. Monahan stole second only to be brought around to score by Davis on the next at-bat as Davis recorded her second RBI of the game thanks to a double to right center field. Davis led the Panthers in hitting finishing the game 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Davis was not on base for long as Mitchell struck an RBI single to center field to extend the Panther lead to 5-2. EIU scored once again on the following at-bat thanks to Johnson's second triple of the game putting the Panthers up 6-2.
Detroit threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning after Jessica Wireman struck out the lead-off batter. Wireman, who came in for relief in the bottom of the sixth inning, walked the bases loaded off the next three batters. The junior eventually earned the save striking out the next two batters to finish recording the only three strikeouts of the game for EIU.
Both Monahan and Mitchell finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate.
The Panthers continue play at the Total Control Sports Invitational tomorrow facing Miami (OH) at 4:30 p.m. followed by IUPUI at 7 p.m.
UT MARTIN 12, NEVADA 4
HAMMOND, La. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team scored nine unanswered runs to rally for a 12-4 victory over Nevada in the team’s season opener on Friday afternoon.
The Skyhawks (1-0) got off on the right foot in the season opener, scoring nine unanswered runs in the final two innings to pick up a 12-4 victory in the team’s first game in the Southeastern Louisiana Lion Classic. As a whole, the Skyhawks outhit the Wolf Pack 13 to six on the afternoon en route to a commanding victory.
Newcomer Rachel Williams led the team with three hits in five at bats, while driving in two RBIs in the contest. Junior Jodie Duncan paced the squad with four RBIs on two base hits while the quartet of Carly Gonzales, Williams, Renate Meckl and Alli Fulcher each tallied multi-RBI contests.
Senior standout Brooke Kennedy (1-0) picked up her first victory of the season, tossing a complete game with eight strikeouts. The righty allowed just six hits on the afternoon while issuing a pair of walks along with runs.
The Skyhawks jumped out to an early advantage in the first innings. With the bases loaded, Fulcher would draw an eight-pitch walk to score the game’s first run. The squad would later add to their advantage in the third inning as a single up the middle by Fulcher drove in her second run of the contest, scoring Meckl on the play to give UT Martin a 2-0 advantage.
Nevada would strike back in the bottom of the third inning as the first two batters reached bases on a walk and a single. With runners in scoring position, Melissa Arriaga would drive in the pair with a single to left center, tying the game at two runs apiece.
UT Martin would retake the lead in the fifth inning as Williams led off the frame with a single to left field. Duncan would bring her classmate around to score later in the inning with an infield single to take a 3-2 advantage.
The Wolf Pack would rally in the fifth innings, scoring a pair of runs to take their first lead of the contest. Four singles in the inning would plate a pair of runs, highlighted by a two-run base knock by Jennifer Purcell. With the quartet of base knocks, Nevada would hold a 4-2 lead after five innings of work.
The Skyhawks would mount their comeback attempt in the sixth innings. The first three players would reach base in the inning before a pair of runs came around to score on a single, giving the squad the lead once again. The squad would stay on the offensive as a three-run homer by Duncan pushed the Skyhawks advantage out to four runs in the sixth.
UT Martin would look to put the game away in the seventh innings. Aeron Smith would lead off the inning with an infield single before a base knock by Gonzales up the middle scored a pair of runs. A fielder’s choice off the bat of Williams later in the inning would result in another pair of runs, giving the Skyhawks a 12-4 victory.
The Skyhawks will return to action with a pair of doubleheaders against Coppin State and Army. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. in the team’s back-to-back contests.
BELMONT 6, UMBC 3; BELMONT 9, UMKC 4
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Belmont Softball used a balanced attack at the plate and inside the circle to pick up a pair of wins on the first day of the inaugural Winter Fest Tournament. The Bruins (2-0) defeated UMBC (0-1), 6-3, and UMKC (0-1), 9-4, to usher in the Brian Levin era on Friday at E.S. Rose Park.
More to come...
MURRAY STATE 9, MERCER 4; MURRAY STATE 5, PORTLAND STATE 1
MACON, Ga. - Recaps coming soon.
TENNESSEE STATE 9, JARVIS CHRISTIAN 0
JACKSON, Miss. - Recap coming soon.