Eagle Softball Splits Two Games to Begin 2020 Season

BOX SCORE (NC A&T) | BOX SCORE (CHARLOTTE)
 
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Morehead State softball team opened its 2020 season with a two-game split in the First Pitch Classic at Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium on Saturday.
 
The Eagles started the day defeating North Carolina A&T (0-4) 8-3 before falling to the host Charlotte 49ers (3-6) 10-5.
 
In the games, sophomore Adeline Nicholson combined to go 3-for-5 with a double and four RBI while earning three walks in her first games in an Eagle uniform.
 
The Eagles return to action Sunday again facing off against North Carolina A&T at 11 a.m. before seeking revenge versus Charlotte at 2 p.m.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – NC A&T
 
- The Aggies began the scoring with a double in the first to make it a 1-0 game.
- The lead was furthered in the second on another double that drove in two more to push the margin to 3-0.
- The Eagles answered back in the third inning thanks to a single by freshman Kirya Kingery that brought in one. This was quickly followed by a two-run single by Nicholson that tied it up at 3-3.
- A pair of sacrifices, a bunt by freshman Madeline Gailor and a flyout by Kingery, scored two more in the fourth.
- Sophomore Maddie Kawall pushed the lead to 7-3 in the fifth on account of an RBI double that scored one before crossing the plate herself on a wild pitch.
- Kawall earned another RBI in the sixth on a bases-loaded walk to account for the 8-3 final score.
 
KEY STATS – NC A&T
 
- Kawall went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBI, and three runs scored in her first career game for the Eagles.
- Senior Lindsay Anderson recorded two hits, a run scored, and a walk in her final Opening Day.
- Morehead State out-hit the Aggies 9-6.
- Freshman Kelsey Perkins (1-0) went the distance in her first career game earning five strikeouts in the process.
- Perkins only gave up two hits for the Aggies in the final five innings of the game.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – CHARLOTTE
 
- Morehead State scored all of its runs in the first inning that began with a two-run double by Nicholson and an RBI sac bunt by sophomore Peyton Rose. This was followed when sophomore Peyton Slater was hit by a pitch that brought in another runner and a sac fly by freshman Taylor Rhea that made it a 5-0 game.
- The 49ers answered back in the bottom of the first with a single that scored two and a wild pitch that brought in another to make it 5-3.
- Charlotte tied the game off a two-run home run in the third.
- The home team continued to score in the fifth thanks to a triple, single, and double that each drove in one run to create an 8-5 margin.
- Charlotte finished its scoring in the sixth off another RBI double and a sac fly that brought in the final run of the game to account for the 10-5 score.
 
KEY STATS – CHARLOTTE
 
- Charlotte touched up freshman Carolyn Alincic for seven hits and five runs while Taylor Rhea was given the loss in her first college appearance on the mound.
- Gailor went 2-for-4 in the game with one run scored
- The Eagles recorded seven hits on the game.