Softball finishes first day of USF Tourney 2-0
The softball team could not ask for a better start to its spring break after finishing the first day of the USF Under Armour Invitational 2-0.
CMU started the day off with a win against Providence, 5-1. In the second game, it outscored St. Joseph’s 8-3 to enter Saturday’s games with another victory under its belt.
In the first game against the Friars, the Chippewas had no problem starting off hot.
Senior Macy Merchant led off with a well-placed bunt to third base and was able to advance to second off a single to left field by junior Brittney Horan.
Freshman Katelyn Rentschler hit a single, allowing Merchant and Horan to advance to third and second.
With bases loaded, junior catcher Cory DeLamielleur smacked a single to bring home Merchant and Horan. DeLamielleur later stole home, adding a third run to gain an early lead.
On the mound, senior ace Kara Dornbos pitched all seven innings giving up five hits and one run. She only had one strike out on the day, but the defense had her back, keeping Providence scoreless in six innings.
While Dornbos was doing her thing in the circle, her offense was giving her plenty of support.
In the second, Merchant and Horan manufactered a run after Merchant singled and later stole second, putting her in scoring position and giving her team a 4-0 lead when Horan produced with a single to right field.
The bats stayed alive in the second game against the Hawks.
Junior Chelsea Sundberg pitched three and one-third innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs before junior Kristen Kuhlman was brought in for the final three and two-thirds innings. Kuhlman allowed only two hits and one earned run.
St. Joseph’s came out strong in the second, battering away at Sundberg who allowed four hits. It capitalized, scoring two runs and taking the early 2-0 lead.
The Chippewas started battling with a run in the third when Merchant reached first on a fielder’s choice and was moved to second by a single by Horan. Senior Summer Knoop hit a single to bring Merchant.
It was in the fourth inning when they would run away with the game.
Freshman Trista Cox stole home after a hitting a double to tie the game. The next inning, Horan scored on a past ball to put her team ahead, 3-2.
Knoop and Horan led the team with two RBI and two hits in three at-bats to secure the win.
At 2:45 p.m. Saturday the team will play its toughest test of the young season when it takes on No. 19 Kentucky, it will then play again on Saturday with a scheduled 5 p.m. start time against Loyola-Chicago.
