PEMBROKE, N.C. — The Yellow Jacket softball team got the season started on Sunday as they fell to Kutztown University in a run-rule shortened game one, but came back to defeat the UNC-Pembroke Braves in eight innings.
Game 1 vs. Kutztown - Final 5 innings
WVSU: 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 5 Errors, 5 Runners Left on Base
Kutztown: 9 Runs, 6 Hits, 1 Error, 7 Runners Left on Base
Senior Kasey Murphy got the start for the first game of the year. She survived just nine batters after giving up four runs and four walks including a solo jack to left field to lead off the bottom of the second inning for the Bears then allowed two more free passes before being pulled for senior Emilee Walker. Walker recorded one out and faced just three batters, allowing two more runs before she made way for freshman Megan Shoemaker. Shoemaker pitched the rest of the game and gave up three runs, five hits, sent two back to the dugout and gave up two walks. The Yellow Jackets were largely held in check with only two hits recorded by the Jacket hitters. Sophomore Lindsay Phares recorded a double for the Jackets only extra base hit.
Game 2 vs. UNC Pembroke - Final 8 innings
WVSU: 10 Runs, 13 Hits, 2 Errors, 6 Runners Left on Base
UNC-P: 9 Runs, 11 Hits, 3 Errors, 11 Runners Left on Base
Sophomore left-hander Autumn Thompson and reigning MEC Freshman of the Year got the call for game two, giving up five runs through the first three innings. Murphy got a one-out double in the top of the fourth inning then advanced to third as Paige Scruggs grounded out to first base. Phares then singled to push Murphy across for WVSU's first run of the game and of the season, 5-1. A UNC-P walk led off the bottom of the fourth, but the Braves were set down in order after that. The Jackets exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth, with Thompson, Emele Clark, Emma Ruth, Murphy, and Scruggs all scoring and Ruth, Murphy, Scruggs, and Phares all being credited with RBIs, 6-5. UNC-P added a run in the bottom of the 6th to tie the score and send the game into extras. The Jackets went on a tear once again for four more runs in the 8th to seemingly put the game out of reach. The Braves made it interesting in the bottom of the 8th with three more to bring it to 10-9, but failed to push across another run.
WVSU returns to action in day two of the UNC-P Invitational. The Yellow Jackets will square off with Kutztown at 12:30 pm, then follow-up with a rematch with UNC-P at approximately 3:00 pm. Live stats will be available for both games.
