Ohio Valley Conference

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - It was a rough start for the Tennessee Tech softball team at the UNF-JU Classic on Thursday as the Golden Eagles took one on the chin in the opener as the host North Florida squad no-hit Tech in the first game.

Things went a little smoother in game two as Emily York had a solid outing, but the host Ospreys took the nightcap 3-0.

The Golden Eagles return to action on Saturday as they play two against the other host in the event, the Jacksonville University Dolphins.

UNF (16-5) showed its offensive prowess, collecting 10 runs on eight hits in the five-inning affair.

The Ospreys scored once in the first on a sacrifice fly, then struck for five runs in the second with two throwing errors, a double steal and a two-run home run driving in the tallies. An RBI triple and a grounder brought in two more runs in the third, then a two-run single in the fourth concluded the scoring.

Addison Abell took the loss, allowing three earned runs – eight in all – on seven hits over 2 1/3 innings. Faith Rush closed out the game, allowing two runs on one hit with two walks.

In game two, Tech was able to break through with four base hits and three walks as Olivia Evans, Julie Martin, Ashley Capelouto and Ella Bishop were able to get base knocks, but the Golden Eagles ended up stranding all eight base runners in the game.

York went the distance in the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits as she struck out three.

UNF scored on an RBI single in the first and the fourth, then collected an RBI double in the sixth.

GREEN BAY 8, LINDENWOOD 6
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood Softball team (6-8, 0-0 OVC) fell in their home opener on Thursday afternoon by a final score of 8-6 to Green Bay. Tori Hatton and Jolie McMinn led the way for the Lions offensively as they both went 2/3 on the afternoon, but the Phoenix put up four runs in the top of the sixth inning which was too much for the Lions to overcome late in the game. 

In the first inning, both teams scored a run behind RBI doubles. In the bottom of the first with the Lions trailing 1-0, Kylee Crowder reached base on an infield single to the shortstop and came around to score two at bats later thanks to a Tori Hatton RBI double off the left field fence to even the score at one. The Phoenix added one run in the next three innings to grab a 4-1 lead after four innings of play behind a SAC fly, home run, and RBI single to left field putting the pressure on Lindenwood. 

LU responded in a big way in the bottom of the fifth inning by putting up four runs and taking a 5-4 lead. Izzy Wilcox started the rally with a lead-off triple and came around to score the next at bat on a Madisen Noll RBI single to left center. After Kylee Crowder was hit by a pitch, Emily Geary delivered an RBI knock up the middle to cut the Green Bay lead down to 4-3. The Lions would eventually tie the game after Anna Sanders was hit by a pitch to make it 4-4, and with the bases loaded, Jolie McMinn gave Lindenwood the 5-4 lead on a SAC fly to center field with two innings to go. 

Green Bay matched the Lions four runs in the top of the sixth however, and retook the lead by a score of 8-5. Lindenwood got a run back in the bottom of the seventh thanks to McMinn's second hit and RBI of the day to make it 8-6, but that would be all the Lions could bring home in the last inning as the Phoenix hung on to win the game.

#14 ARIZONA 8, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0  (5)
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois softball opened a weekend full of nationally ranked competition on Thursday night with a game at No. 14 Arizona.

EIU lost 8-0 to the Wildcats with Abbi Hatton and Mo Hance picking up hits for the Panthers.

Rylie Holder (4-1) threw the complete game shutout for Arizona as they improved to 13-5 on the season.  EIU fell to 4-12 on the year.

Freshman Grace Lemke (1-1) made the start against Arizona going 1.2 innings.  Bryanna French closed out the game in the circle for the Panthers.

Arizona opened the scoring with a two-run double by Sydney Stewart in the first followed by a two-run double by Sereniti Trice in the second inning. 

Stewart added an RBI single in the fourth to drive in three runs in game.  Trice had three hits.