The Westminster softball team split on their season-opening day at the Warrior Spring Fling hosted by Hendrix College. The Westminster Blue Jays fell 7-4 to the #8 nationally ranked Washington University, but went on to defeat Hendrix College, 10-8. The Blue Jays head into day two of the tournament with a 1-1 record.
The Washington University Bears put up four runs in the top of the second inning, including three runs off a triple. The Blue Jays put up their first run in the bottom of the second with an RBI single through the left side from junior Erica Burney. The Bears added two more runs in the third to take a 6-1 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth the Blue Jays added three runs to the board. Freshman Caty Barrett and sophomore Leah Holthaus each singled, and a two RBI single to left field by sophomore Amber Tepen brought in Barrett and Holthaus. With two outs, junior Anne Baker hit a RBI single to left field, bringing in Tepen. The Blue Jay's inning was ended on the next play as freshman Taylor Sechler, pinch runner for Baker, was thrown out at home.
The Bears added one more run in the top of the seventh inning to take a 7-4 lead. The Blue Jay defense finished the top of the seventh with two runners stranded and started the bottom of the seventh down three runs. A double play ended the game for the Blue Jays with a 7-4 loss.
The Blue Jays finished with eight hits and four RBI. Tepen went 2-for-3 from the plate with one run and two RBI. Senior Shannon Perrigo ended the game with eight putouts, and junior Brittany Hodge recorded four assists.
Junior pitcher Alyson Hahn was credited with the loss. She pitched the complete game, faced 38 batters and struck out three.
The Blue Jays took a short break and headed back to the field for game two of the day versus Hendrix College. The Blue Jays started the game with a run by Tepen on a wild pitch. The team then scored their second run of the inning off a hit by pitch, bringing in Burney. The Hendrix Warriors changed out pitchers and the inning came to an end with a strikeout.
Hendrix put up an unearned run in the bottom of the first and four runs in the second to take a 5-2 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Tepen doubled to left center, bringing in Holthaus. Baker later hit a RBI single to center field, bringing in Tepen to tie the game at 4-4, and the Blue Jays took the lead in the fifth inning when they put up three runs. Tepen hit a RBI single to score sophomore Kim Morrison, and Burney hit a two RBI double down the left field line to bring in Tepen and Hodge. Hendrix scored a run in the bottom of the inning to bring the game to 7-6.
Westminster put up two more runs in the sixth inning, but Hendrix answered with two of their own in the bottom of the inning. In the top of the ninth, Baker doubled to center field. She advanced to third on a ground out and a Morrison RBI single to right field brought her home. The Blue Jays held a 10-8 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. Hendrix started with a double, but the Blue Jays threw out the next three runners, ending the game with their first season win, 10-8.
The Blue Jays finished with 13 hits and seven RBI. Tepen went 4-for-5 from the plate with three runs and two RBI. Morrison went a perfect 2-for-2 from the plate with two runs and one RBI, and Baker went 2-for-3. Hahn led the defense with 11 putouts, and Perrigo recorded four assists.
Perrigo received the win at the mound. She pitched the complete game, faced 37 batters and struck out one.
The Blue Jays repeat the day on Saturday with a game versus Washington University at 10:00 am and a game versus Hendrix College at 2:00 pm.