Softball falls to Virginia Tech and Furman

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GREENVILLE, S.C. - Morehead State softball fell in their first two games of the very challenging Spartan Classic. They lost 8-0 to Virginia Tech before losing 10-2 to host Furman, both in five innings of play.

In the loss to Virginia Tech, the Eagles managed just one hit and committed two errors as the Hokies scratched one run across in the first, three in the third, and then ended it by scoring four in the fifth. 

"The score didn't actually reflect the nature of the game," said head coach David Williams. "There was a lot of positives to build off of against a quality opponent."

Junior Kayla McGuffey recorded the lone hit for MSU, a single to lead off the game. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then to third on a wild pitch, but was stranded when sophomore Lindsay Ward struck out.

Sophomore Mackenzie Grossman (1-2) picked up the loss for the Eagles after allowing seven runs, six of which were earned, on 11 hits in 4.1 innings of work. She struck out four and walked four.

Chelsea Whitcomb (2-2) recorded the win for the Hokies after allowing one hit and striking out seven in five innings.

Virginia Tech's Olivia Lattin went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth. 

In the second game, Furman jumped out early with three runs in the first and then added seven in the third to go up 10-0. Morehead State responded with two runs in the fourth, as freshman Ellen Barrett scored on a fielding error and sophomore Robyn Leighton continued her hot start by scoring Barrett with an RBI double to left field.

But, it wasn't enough to get the Eagles past the fifth inning as they fell, 10-2.

"We failed to execute in all areas today," said Williams. "We need to learn from our mistakes and focus on the games tomorrow."

Morehead State managed just four hits, as Furman's Emily Demonte (2-1) pitched five scoreless innings to record the win. She only struck out two, but did not walk a batter and both of the Eagles' runs were unearned. 

A week after recording two wins, freshman Allison Rager (3-1) picked up her first loss of the season in the defeat. She allowed six runs, five of which were earned, in two innings of work, while walking one and striking out none.

Candace Johnson finished 2-of-3 for the Paladins with a double and a two-run homer in the first inning.

The Eagles continue play in the Spartan Classic tomorrow afternoon. They face Ohio State at 11 a.m. and South Carolina-Upstate at 1 p.m. ET.