NAPLES, Fla. - Widener Softball kicks off their 2024 season with two wins in their Florida season opener. They beat Western Connecticut State 2-1 University of Wisconsin-Superior 4-1.
The Pride improve to 2-0 on the season and remain 0-0 in conference play.
BY THE NUMBERS: GAME 1
BY THE NUMBERS: GAME 2
HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST WESTERN CONNECTICUT
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The top of the first saw the Wolves be walked in the first at-bat, but she was caught stealing second and the other two hitters were grounded out. The Pride's Jalia Lawrence was also walked, but two ground outs and a double play to get her out on third later saw the first inning finish scoreless. In the bottom of the second, Samantha McCarthy would bat a single and steal second base. A double from Liv Robinson would have McCarthy as the Pride led 1-0. The Wolves were still unable to record a hit in the top of the third, as three straight outs left a walked Wolf on first base. In the bottom of the third, Lawrence would hit a single. Abby Blake would reach first on a fielder's choice, as Lawrence would be out on third. A Paris Balilonis double would lead to a Blake score and the Pride go up 2-0 at the end of the inning.
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The fourth inning would start with a walk for the Wolves that would lead to a score off a double later, as they would close the Pride lead to 2-1. Three straight Pride outs would end the fourth. The fifth inning would see no scores for either team, as the Wolves would get a walk and the Pride's Lawrence would get a single but was left on base due to three Pride outs. The sixth inning would have the Wolves again be walked and left on base as the Pride's fielding and pitching continued to stop any scoring attempts. The Pride would go three straight outs on their batting attempt despite a double from Balilonis. With three straight Wolf outs in the top of the seventh, the Pride would secure the win 2-1.
HOW IT HAPPENED AGAINST WISCONSIN-SUPERIOR
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The first inning started slow, with three straight outs for both teams. In the second, Alyssa Gomez's single would be left on base as three Pride outs would turn batting to the Yellow Jackets. The Yellow Jackets would score on a RBI Single as the second inning would close with the Pride down 0-1. In the third, Kate Tong's double would be left on the field, and three straight Yellow Jacket outs would close the third still at 0-1.
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The Pride would come out hot in the fourth, starting with a Balilonis single. Gomez would be walked to advance Balilonis to second and a ground out would advance both to second and third. A Caitlyn Katchur single would have Balilonis score and the Pride tie up the game at 1-1, with Gomez getting out at third. Catchur would steal second and Robinson would be walked. The stealing would continue, as Catchur would steal home and Robinson to second as the Pride would take the lead at 2-1. Robinson was eventually caught stealing to third. With two batters on base for the Yellow Jackets, a double play and fly out would end the chance of a score, as the fourth inning would end with the Pride up 2-1. In the top of the fifth, the Pride continued their hot hitting. Jill Gray's single and Lawrence's walk would have Pride players on second and first. Tong would sub in for Gray, and a Balilonis single would have Tong score and Lawrence advance to third. Balilonis would advance to second and Lawrence would score, ending the top of the fourth with a 4-1 Pride lead. With Yellow Jackets on second and third and only one out, the Pride's fielding again would shine as they secured two outs to prevent a score. The sixth inning would see three straight outs by both teams and the top of the seventh would have no Pride score despite a McCarthy single. The Yellow Jackets would get a single in their last attempt at bat, but an out swinging would secure a 4-1 win for the Pride.
UP NEXT
The Pride will continue their Florida play as they face University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and Penn State Altoona tomorrow. Those games will be played Monday, March 11 at 9am and 11am.
