FRIDAY'S SCORES
Jacksonville State 6, Army 0
Jacksonville State 11, Rutgers 2 (6)
Maryland 6,
Murray State 3
Alabama 12,
Murray State 0
UT Martin 6, Winthrop 4
@Georgia Southern 5,
UT Martin 4
Louisiana Tech 5,
Tennessee State 4
#17 Auburn 11,
Tennessee State 4
Longwood 10,
Eastern Kentucky 1
Elon 7,
Eastern Kentucky 5
Ohio 9,
Eastern Illinois 8
Eastern Illinois 11, @Kennesaw State 0
Austin Peay 10, ULM 0
Austin Peay 8, Wright State 3
Southeast Missouri 7, South Dakota State 3
Soutehast Missouri 5, Northern Iowa 1
@Kennesaw State 6,
Morehead State 5
JACKSONVILLE STATE 5, ARMY 0; JACKSONVILLE STATE 11, RUGTERS 2
MACON, Ga. - A couple of career performances paced the Jacksonville State softball team to an opening day sweep at the Mercer Invitational on Friday.
The Gamecocks (2-0) used Faith Sims' first career no-hitter to open the 2019 season with a 6-0 win over Army and then used a two-homer, six-RBI day from Kirsten Titus to hand Rutgers an 11-2 defeat in the second game. Titus also started the second game and earned the win in the circle.
Sims' first career no-hitter was JSU's first since 2017, but it was the first seven-inning no-no by a Gamecock pitcher since Tiffany Harbin's gem against Murray State on March 18, 2012. It was the first Opening Day no-hitter by a Gamecock since Harbin and Casey Akenberger tossed them back-to-back in 2014 against Northern Kentucky and Mississippi Valley State, respectively. Both of those were five-inning games.
Titus' performance was equally impressive. The fourth-year senior from Evans, Ga., entered the day with just two career at bats for JSU, spending the majority of her career in the circle. She did both on Friday, tossing 5 and 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win, while belting her first two career hits over the wall at Sikes Field on Mercer's campus.
Also shining at the plate for JSU on the day was senior catcher Lex Hull. The Louisville, Ky., native went a combined 3-for-6 with a double, home run and five RBI to lead JSU offensively.
Sims (1-0) controlled the opener from the start, striking out five of her first eight outs of the game. The Cordova, Ala., native allowed just three base runners to reach in the game, two hit batters and one reaching on an error, and only had one runner reach second.
Her final line was an impressive one, tossing seven innings with no runs, no hits, nine strikeouts and no walks. She needed just 89 pitches, 57 of which were strikes, to dispose of the Black Knights.
In a game where she needed very little run support, she got plenty from fellow senior and battery mate Hull. Her catcher went 2-for-3 with a 2-run home run in the third and an RBI single in the fourth.
Hannahstaysia Weaver drove in a run and scored another from the leadoff spot in the lineup, while two runs scored on an error that allowed Taylor Beshears to reach in the Gamecocks' five-run third inning.
Taylor Drayton (0-1) suffered the loss for Army, allowing six runs, five earned, on four hits and four walks. She struck out three in six innings in the circle.
The Gamecocks wasted no time getting going in the second game of the day, putting seven runs on the board in the top of the first against Rutgers. Hull started the scoring with an RBI grounder that scored Karsen Mosley after she led off her first collegiate game with her first collegiate hit.
The big blow came two batters later, when Titus blasted her first three-run blast to left center. The first career homer for the Evans, Ga., native was also her first career hit. The fourth-year player has spent most of her career in the circle, accumulating just one at bat in each of the last two seasons.
She staked JSU to a 4-0 lead that would stretch to 7-0 after freshman Sidney Wagnon's two-run double and Mosley's RBI single.
After Hull's fifth RBI of the day came on her sixth-inning double and gave JSU an 8-0 lead, Titus put the final three runs on the board with a three-run shot to right center.
Titus (1-0) started the game in the circle and held the Scarlet Knights off the board for five innings. Freshman Macy Bearden entered in the sixth but made way for Titus after Rutgers scored two and loaded the bases. She got the final two outs to seal the win and cap her career day.
Whitney Jones (0-1) suffered the loss for the Scarlet Knights after allowing seven runs on six hits in four innings of work. She walked four and struck out two before Cambria Keefer tossed the final two innings and allowed four runs on five hits and a walk.
The Gamecocks continue play in the Mercer Invitational on Saturday, when they play the same two teams. They will face Rutgers at 9 a.m. CT before taking on Army at 11:15 a.m. CT.
MARYLAND 6, MURRAY STATE 3; ALABAMA 12, MURRAY STATE 0
TROY, Ala. - The Racers dropped both games on opening day of the 2019 season at the Trojan Classic in Troy, Alabama. The first came via a 6-3 loss to Maryland followed by a 12-0 defeat at the hands of #9 Alabama.
Game 1 – Maryland 6, Murray St. 3
In the first-ever meeting between the two schools, Maryland found themselves on the board early generating three runs with two outs in the top of the first courtesy of a three-run home run from Sammie Stefan. The Racers would get one back in the home half of the first after Brenna Finck got on with a leadoff walk and went on to steal second. Lexi Jones would take care of the rest driving home Finck on a first-pitch double to right field.
MSU narrowed the gap with another run in the second after Lillie Goetz singled to left bringing Lindsey Carroll around to score who reached base on a walk earlier in the inning in her first plate appearance as a Racer.
The third inning brought on another Maryland run off the bat of Bailey Boyd who drove in Anna Kufta after she opened the frame with a leadoff single.
The Racer half of the fourth brought an explosive start from Denise Teague as she recorded her first hit in a Murray State uniform by virtue of a leadoff double to left-center. Goetz would then build on an impressive outing by driving in Teague and cutting the Terrapin lead to a single run at 4-3.
The Racer offense would be held silent the rest of the outing while the defense surrendered an additional two runs in the late innings of the contest to arrive at a 6-3 final in the opener.
The Racers were powered by Lillie Goetz (2-3, 2 RBIs) and Logan Braundmeier (2-3, SB) who both turned in two-hit performances in the opener.
GAME 2- Alabama 12, Murray St. 0
Game two of the Trojan Classic saw the Racers take on #9 Alabama. The Crimson Tide justified their ranking with an explosive twelve run performance while holding MSU to just a single hit. Fueled by a nine-run third inning, Alabama came out hot and never looked back. For the Racers, Jensen Striegel broke up the no-hitter in the home half of the fourth, beating out a bunt and later advancing to second on a wild pitch.
The Racers are back on the diamond on Saturday for day two of the Trojan Classic taking on Alabama again at 12:30 and then facing the host Trojans of Troy at 5:30pm.
UT MARTIN 6, WINTHROP 4; GEORGIA SOUTHERN 6, UT MARTIN 4
STATESBORO, Ga. – The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team officially kicked off its 2019 season on Friday afternoon, opening the season with a victory over Winthrop (6-4) before falling to tournament host Georgia Southern (6-4) on the first day of the Bash in the Boro.
The Skyhawks (1-1) used the opening day as a bit of casting practice with several players seeing action. With 11 newcomers on the squad, UT Martin head coach Donley Canary wasted little time getting everyone playing time as all 11 newcomers made their Skyhawk debuts on the opening day of the season.
UT Martin saw strong performances from its returning cast to lead the way. Sophomore Paige Clark led all hitters with three base knocks on the day while driving in a pair of RBIs. Meanwhile, the senior duo of Gracyn McBride and Alli Fulcher showed their veteran presence with a pair of base knocks each while combining to drive in six runs – including a grand slam by McBride while Fulcher narrowly missed a grand slam of her own as a double struck off the top of the left field wall to score a pair.
Junior pitcher Hannah Ridolfi (1-0, 2.00 ERA) picked up where she left off last season to cruise to a win in the season opener. Ridolfi notched her 18th complete game for the Skyhawks while allowing two earned runs on the afternoon. In the second game of the day, freshman Lexi Ray (0-1, 10.50 ERA) made her debut, tossing four innings before being relieved by classmate Erin Gallagher who struck out two in a pair of shutout innings.
Game 1: UT Martin 6, Winthrop 4
UT Martin would jump out to an early lead in the season opener as senior Shelby Woodard made her Skyhawk debut by doubling to left center to score junior Haley Short on the play and take an early advantage.
The Skyhawks would strike again in the bottom of the second inning. After UT Martin would load the bases through a series of differing events, McBride launched a grand slam over the center field wall for her 17th career home run and 70th career RBIs.
UT Martin would add another run in the bottom of the third inning off a wild pitch and throwing error. With a 6-1 advantage, the Skyhawks would allow a couple runs down the stretch but hold on to seal the team’s opener 6-4.
Game 2: Georgia Southern 6, UT Martin 4
UT Martin found themselves in an early hole in the second game of the day against tournament host Georgia Southern. The Eagles would jump out to an early lead by scoring four runs in the second inning. Facing the four-run deficit, the Skyhawks finally got on the scoreboard as Clark punched a single into right field to score freshman Kenna Garst.
The Eagles would add another pair of runs in the third and fifth innings to push the team’s margin out to five points. Facing a deficit, the Skyhawks began to mount their comeback attempt in the top of the sixth inning. Down by five, Fulcher would see the bases become loaded in front of her before stroking a two-run double off the top of the left field wall – narrowly missing a grand slam of her own by just inches – to cut the margin in half.
UT Martin would mount its final rally attempt in the top of the seventh. With runners on the corners Clark would tally her second RBI of the day to cut the margin to just two runs. The Skyhawks would ultimately see the game’s potential tying run come up to the plate before the final out was record to end the contest.
UT Martin will return to action with a pair of games on Day Two of the Bash in the Boro. The Skyhawks will square off against Saint Francis (8 a.m.) and Savannah State (10:30 a.m.) on Saturday, Feb. 9.
LONGWOOD 10, EASTERN KENTUCKY 1; ELON 7, EASTERN KENTUCKY 5
ELON, N.C. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team lost a pair of contest on opening day Friday in Elon, North Carolina.
EKU fell to Longwood University, 10-1, in the opener before falling to Elon University, 7-5, in the second game of the day.
The Colonels got off to a hot start in game two, plating four runs in the top half of the third inning after a two-run home run by Destinee Lizzmore, her second in as many contests, and a double by Hannah Clark to take a 4-0 lead.
Emily Corbitt doubled through the right side to bring home Lizzmore to extend the Eastern lead to 5-2 after three and a half innings.
That is when Elon got the bats going. The Phoenix scored five unanswered runs over the fourth and fifth innings to erase a 5-2 deficit.
Rebecca Murray doubled to right center to bring home two, followed by a RBI single from Erica Serafini to tie the game 5-5.
In the bottom of the fifth, Lauryn Clark sent a home run over the right center field fence to give Elon a 7-5 lead.
EKU threatened in the top half of the seventh inning. Sammi Miller got it going with a double into the left center gap. Carly Robinson and Mattira Morales each walked to load the bases with two outs. The rally ended with a fly out to left field.
Lizzmore went 3-for-4 with one double, one home run and two RBIs. Miller was 3-for-4 with one double and one RBI.
Murray was 2-for-4 with one double and two RBIs on the night for Elon.
EKU could not get much going in game number one against Longwood.
The Lancers got on the board early after a RBI single by Karleigh Donovan to give them the early 1-0 lead. They weren’t done scoring. Alexis Wayland came home after a throwing error to take a 2-0 lead, which would be enough for the Lancers.
Lizzmore hit her first home run of the day and the season to start the bottom of the first inning to cut into the lead, 2-1, but the Colonels never got closer.
Longwood scored two more in the third, five more in the fourth and one more in the fifth to put the run rule into effect.
EKU only managed one hit in the contest. Longwood racked up 11 hits on the day.
The Colonels will be back in action on Saturday when they face Appalachian State at noon.
AUSTIN PEAY 10, ULM 0; AUSTIN PEAY 8, WRIGHT STATE 3
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - For only the second time in school history, Austin Peay opened a softball season with two straight wins, as the Governors defeated Louisiana Monroe 10-0 and Wright State 8-3 to open the UAB Tournament.
Morgan Rackel (1-0) picked up the shutout win in Game 1, needing only 69 pitches in her five innings of work, strikeout out 10 and giving up only two singles.
Kacy Acree and Carly Mattson did most of the damage for the Govs at the plate, driving in four runs each, with Acree collecting a double and a home run, while Mattson added a double.
APSU’s all-time RBI leader Danielle Liermann had the Govs only other RBI versus ULM.
In Game 2, Austin Peay would break open a 3-3 tie with a two-run fourth and a three-run fifth to come away with the victory, with Emily Moore driving in three of the five final runs scored by the Govs – including a two-run homer just inside the left field foul pole to close out the scoring.
Kelly Mardones (1-0) picked up the win, while Kelsey Gross threw three shutout innings of relief to pick up the save.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 7, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 3; SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 5, NORTHERN IOWA 1
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa– Southeast Missouri (2-0) opened its 2019 season strong with a sweep in the first day of the UNI Dome Classic Friday. The Redhawks beat South Dakota State, 7-3, and tournament host Northern Iowa, 5-1.
SEMO used a five-run second inning to propel its tournament-opening win over SDSU giving head coach Mark Redburn his third-straight win in a season-opener.
Down, 2-0, following a two-run home run by Ali Herdliska, the Redhawks immediately answered with a five-hit ambush in the top of the second.
Sarah Messex led things off with an infield single and went to second on a base hit by Ashley Ellis. Claudia Gallo stepped in and smacked a ground-rule double and Messex scored. Parker Bandy's one-out single up the middle knocked in both Gallo and Ellis before Rachael Donald ripped a two-RBI single to right center giving SEMO a 5-2 advantage.
Donald, in just her third career start at catcher, knocked out SDSU starting pitcher Emma Hardin with her clutch hit.
SEMO scored again in the third and once more in the fourth to bury the Jackrabbits.
Bandy tripled home Addison Barnouski with two outs in the third and Messex drove in Rachel Anderson on a one-out single in the top of the fourth.
Haley Thogmartin (1-0) picked up her first win of the season. Thogmartin allowed two runs on four hits and struck out one in four innings.
Kaylee Anderson relieved Thogmartin and scattered three hits in 1.2 innings. Anderson also struck out one and gave up a run.
Rachel Rook then struck out three in 1.1 scoreless, no-hit innings.
Offensively, SEMO registered 12 hits with Bandy (2), Messex (3) and Donald (2) combining for seven. Messex went 3-for-4 with a RBI, Bandy went 2-for-4 with a triple, run scored and three RBI and Donald finished at 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Eight of the Redhawks nine starters had a hit. Although Rachel Anderson scored a run and walked twice, her 16-game hitting streak came to an end with a 0-for-2 performance out of the No. 3 spot in the lineup.
Against tournament-host UNI, SEMO struck first when Madison Harris ripped a two-out RBI-single in the top of the third inning.
The Redhawks blew the game open when they came to bat in the fourth.
Bandy drew a leadoff walk and was at second following a groundout by Ellis. Barnouski doubled to right center and Bandy scored. With Arellanes at second after she was hit by a pitch and advanced on a wild pitch, R. Anderson slugged a two-out triple to left center scoring both Arellanes and Barnouski. Messex greeted UNI reliever Hannah Kelley with a base hit and R. Anderson touched home to make it 5-0 in favor of the Redhawks.
UNI avoided the shutout when it scored its only run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Alexis Estes (1-0) claimed her first win of the season tossing four scoreless two-hit innings. Estes recorded two strikeouts, as well.
Marisa Davis made her college debut in relief pitching one inning before Rook struck out three in two frames.
R. Anderson and Messex each went 2-for-4 at the top of SEMO's lineup. Barnouski also contributed two hits.
Messex had a huge opening day hitting .625 (5-for-8) with a double, two RBI, .750 slugging percentage and .625 on-base percentage.
SEMO resumes action at the UNI Dome Classic against Northern Iowa and Toledo Saturday.
LOUISIANA TECH 5, TENNESSEE STATE 4; AUBURN 11, TENNESSEE STATE 4
GULF SHORES, Ala. - The Tennessee State softball team came up short in both games on the first day of the 2019 season. The Tigers dropped a heartbreaking 5-4 decision to Louisiana Tech and an 11-4 contest to No. 17 Auburn on the opening day of the Sand Dollar Classic.
TSU exploded for five extra base hits on the day, including three home runs. Sarah Snell led off the opener with her first career home run. The shot over the centerfield fence put the Tigers ahead of Louisiana Tech 1-0. The Lady Techsters answered with a run in the bottom of the first inning and another in the second off starting pitcher Katie Schneider.
The Tigers took advantage of an error and a walk to take a 3-2 lead. Katie Schneider delivered a two-run single down the third base line to plate Maddison Clark and Snell. Bri Vire increased the Tiger advantage to 4-2 with an RBI single to close out the third.
The Lady Techsters crept back into the game with a run in the fourth and took the lead for good with two runs in the fifth.
Schneider suffered the loss to fall to 0-1, surrendering eight hits and two walks.
The 17th ranked Tigers took an early lead on the Big Blue with a run in the first. Patton Akers hammered her first collegiate home run in the bottom of the first frame to even the score at 1-1. The score remained tied until Auburn put up three runs in the fourth.
Junior transfer Beckey Melton drove a ball over the fence in left center for her first dinger in a TSU uniform to cut the Auburn lead in half. The Tigers added another run in the fourth on an RBI single by junior college transfer Savanah Wallace.
Auburn pulled away with seven runs, two earned, over the final three innings. The loss dropped the Big Blue to 0-2, as Megan Huppee was tagged with the loss, tossing 3.2 innings.