Syracuse Box Score | GSU Box Score
PANTHERSVILLE, Ga. – Offense wasn’t the big issue for the Morehead State softball team in its season opening games at the Georgia State First Pitch Classic Saturday. It was the pitching that proved to be MSU’s downfall as the Eagles dropped a 9-0, six-inning decision to Syracuse and a 10-7 contest to the host Panthers.
MSU fell to 0-2 as it issued 13 walks on the day.
The Eagles out-hit Georgia State 10-9 and got multiple-hit games and home runs from sophomores Kayla Ashbrook and Elizabeth Wagner. But, MSU gave up six walks from three pitchers and had two costly errors that led to four of GSU’s runs being unearned. The Eagles had a 4-1 lead get wiped out by a six-run third inning from the host school. The Panthers tacked on three more in the fourth to jump to a 10-4 lead before the Eagles rallied with two in the fifth and one in the top of the seventh.
“We just gave up way too many walks. We do have a nice pitching staff, but we just need to find the right combination right now,” said coach Holly Bruder. “I thought we played two pretty good games, and we were in a position to win both.”
Ashbrook finished 3-for-4 with a double and a three-run homer in the third that staked the Eagles to the 4-1 lead. Wagner went 2-for-3 with a two-run round-tripper in the fifth. Senior Brooke McCartney also had two hits.
Lauren Jones and Emily Whitaker led GSU with three RBI each. Jones launched a three-run home run in the sixth-run third inning barrage.
Jami Whitcomb (0-1) was tagged with the loss for MSU, allowing four runs but just one earned. Freshman Kelcey McMurray got her first career start and surrendered three runs in 2.1 innings. Junior Ashley Imperial, who started the game against Syracuse, tossed the final 3.2, giving up just two earned runs and striking out two. Erin Collins was credited with the victory in the circle for GSU.
The Eagles also got hits from sophomore Amber Riddle, freshman Stephanie Etter and sophomore Taylor Sherritt. McCartney and Sherritt notched stolen bases as well.
“Our hitters did well and our defense held up,” said Bruder.
Against Syracuse the Eagles found themselves only down 3-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth, but the Orange erupted for six runs and ended the game when they scored their last runs on a double deep to center field.
“We had a lot of defensive stops and we played a pretty solid game,” said Bruder. “Our relief pitching was the demise in this one.”
The Orange scored two runs in the first and another in the second off Imperial, who fell to 0-1 with the loss. She walked just two and had a strikeout. Ashley Boyd tossed officially an inning-and-a-third and was tagged with five earned runs against her. McMurray gave up a wild pitch in the sixth and Imperial came back in and allowed the final three-run double.
Kayla Brill, McCartney and Rebecca Butler recorded hits for the Eagles. Jenna Caira picked up the win for SU, recording five strikeouts in the complete-game effort.
MSU concludes the tournament on Sunday with games against Syracuse and Georgia State again.
