DEMOREST, Georgia - The Mount St. Joseph University softball team started there season off this weekend with a trip to Demorest, Ga. and Piedmont University. The Lions headed back home after splitting the four games they played over the weekend. On Saturday they fell to Birmingham-Southern 4-2 and then defeated Piedmont 10-7. They then followed that up on Sunday by beating California Lutheran 3-2 before falling to Piedmont 10-4.
GAME ONE | MSJ 2 - BSC 4
In game one of the season coach
Beth Goderwis turned to sophomore
Courtney Keller to start the game in the circle. Keller allowed a pair of runs in the first inning, but settled in to give the Lions an opportunity to get back into the game. She would pitch all 6.0 innings allowing 10-hits and 4 runs while striking out 3.
Offensively the Lions were able to register 10-hits off their own, with four different players with multiple hits in the game. Freshmen
Avery Wiltermood and
Alayna Flynn held down the top two spots in the lineup in their Lions debut, and each had a pair of hits. While
Maddie Kennedy had three hits including two doubles, and
Kaci Finchum added a pair of hits and an RBI.
Birmingham-Southern added another run in the bottom of the fifth inning, taking a 3-0 lead into the sixth. The Lions then finally got on the board, as Kennedy laced a one-out double and scored on a base-hit by Finchum. BSC answered with another run in the bottom of the inning to push their lead back to three. The Mount threatend in the top of the seventh, as Kiley Hankenhof led off with a base-hit, but was erased after
Kelsi Stevenson hit into a double-play. The Mount then loaded the bases with two outs and scored a run on an error by the BSC shortstop, but the rally was not to be as Kennedy popped up to second to end the game.
GAME TWO | MSJ 10 - Piedmont 7
In game two senior
Casey Kemp headed to the circle to get her season underway, the Lions ace was not sharp in her season debut but did enough to get the Lions the win. She threw a complete-game, allowing 13-hits, 7 runs (5 earned), while walking 4 and striking out 4.
Piedmont got on the board first scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. The Lions answered back with a pair in the top of the second inning. Kennedy led off with another double, Finchum followed that up with a walk. Kemp then bunted, moving the runners up a base each to put runners at second an third for Hankenhof. She would single driving in Kennedy,
Emily McDonald then walked and quickly stole second allowing Finchum to steal home.
Piedmont would be the next team to score tying the game in the bottom of the fourth, before taking a 5-2 lead with three in the fifth. The Mount would answer in a big way in the sixth, scoring eight runs in the frame to take control of the game. They would send 13 to the plate, with 7 hits and taking advantage of 4 Piedmont errors to put the game away.
Wiltermood and Kennedy each had three hits in the game, with Kennedy driving in three, scoring three and hitting two doubles.
GAME THREE | MSJ 3 - Cal Lu 2
To open up play on Saturday the Lions once again turned to Kemp, and this time the senior was much more sharp. She pitcher her second complete game in as many games, allowing only a pair of runs while striking out five opposing hitters.
Offensively the Lions had eight hits in the game, with Finchum leading the way with a 3 for 3 effort.
After Kemp got throught the first unscathed the Mount got on the board first in the bottom of the inning. Wiltermood led off with a walk, but was erased by a fielders choice by Flynn.
Macy Cornelius then did damage, lacing a triple into deep left field to score Flynn from first base.
The would score another run in the bottom of the second, Finchum and Kemp led off with back-to-back basehits. Hankenhof then bunted them into scoring position, and
Emily McDonald hit an RBI single into left field.
Cal Lu came back to tie the game with a two-spot in the top of the sixth, setting the stage for the Lions to attempt to get their first walk-off win of the season. Wiltermood led off the seventh with an infield single, she was once again erased by a fielder's choice from Flynn. Flynn's speed would end up winning the game for the Lions, as she would advance to second, third and would eventually score, all on wild pitches.
GAME FOUR | Piedmont 10 - MSJ 4
Piedmont got off to another fast start in this one, scoring one in the first, two in the second, one in the third and another in the fourth inning. They would then explode for five in the sixth inning to put the Lions away.
Once again it was Finchum leading the way offensively with a 2 for 3 effort at the plate, driving in two of the Lions four runs. They scored a single run in the second, fourth, sixth and seventh inning. The big hit eluded them in this one though as they were unable to score multiple runs in any inning.
UP NEXT:
The Lions will once again head south next weekend, heading to Montgomery, Ala. where they will take on William Peace and Huntingdon in Saturday and Sunday double-headers.
