Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Birmingham, ALA. – The Mount St. Joseph University opened the much anticipated 2021 season with a trip to Birmingham, Ala., where they took on some extremely stiff competition. The tough early season games were great preparation for Coach Goderwis and the Lions who have designs on making a post-season run this year.
The Lions took on the number 18 team in the nation during the first game of the weekend, host Birmingham Southern, they followed that up with games against Belhaven, Piedmont College and Louisiana College, all of which are outstanding programs.
GAME 1 | BSC 3-MSJ 2 (Final, 8 innings)
In the first game of the 2021 season the Lions squared off with #18, Birmingham Southern and despite falling played outstanding softball against one of the premiere programs in the country.
Coach Goderwis turned the ball over to her senior ace
Sarah Miller to get the season underway, and Miller gave the Lions a chance to win the ball game against an offense that came into the game averaging better than eight and half runs per game. She pitched the front five innings allowing only two earned runs, leaving before the bottom of the sixth inning with score tied 2-2.
Offensively the Lions got off to a quick start, scoring in the top of the first inning to take an early lead.
Alehia Tucker led off the game reaching via an error, after stealing second and advancing to third on a
Brooke Otto groundout, she scored on a wild pitch.
The Mount tied the game at two in the top of the 6
th inning, again it was Tucker and her speed creating the opportunity. She led off the inning with a ground rule double, and scored on a double by Otto.
All told the Lions managed five hits while only allowing two, as sophomore
Elizabeth Ivers, and freshmen
Kaci Finchum and
Maiah Hodge each registered a hit. For Finchum and Hodge they were the first hits in their MSJ careers.
Kamryn McCool relieved Miller and was absolutely dominant allowing only one hit and striking out five over her 2.2 innings of work. McCool would be the tough luck loser though as she did allow an unearned run in the bottom of the 8
th inning with BSC getting the walk off win.
GAME 2 | Belhaven 2-MSJ 1 (Final, 8 innings)
In game two of the weekend the Mount would square off with Belhaven University for the first time in program history. Again the Lions pitching staff was equal to the task, it was the first game of the season for Belhaven but in 2020 the Blazers were 14-3 and 7-2 in their conference.
To start this game on the mound the Lions turned to
Gracie Smith, and the sophomore picked up right were her teammates left off in game one. She pitched the front 3.0 innings allowing only a pair of baserunner, one hit and one walk.
The game remained scoreless on both sides until The Mount finally scratched across a run in the top of the 5
th inning. With one out in the inning Otto walked, then promptly stole second base. She eventually scored on a base-hit down the left field line by Ivers.
They again registered five hits in the game with Tucker getting two, while Miller and Sarah Kardos each got on the board with their first hits of the season.
Again the Lions would look to McCool to finish the game, as she entered in the bottom of the fourth inning. But again McCool would be a tough luck loser, her stat line though was very impressive. In 3.2 innings of work she allowed four hits, and struck out nine allowing two runs including another walk-off.
UP NEXT: The Lions will return to action Sunday as they finish out the Birmingham Southern Classic with matchups against Piedmont and Louisiana College.
