Columbus, Ms. – The Westminster College Blue Jays Softball team traveled to the Mississippi University for Women to open their season in a neutral game site against the Stillman Colege Tigers. The Blue Jays were more than ready to get their long-awaited season going. Westminster plated 8 runs in the first three innings and held on late to win their season opener 8-7.
The Jays got to work in the top of the first manufacturing a run without the aid of a hit. Laney Rosson Walked with one out. Brooke Laidley then hit into a fielder's choice. Laidley would then take second on a wild pitch. With two out Katie Price would reach base on an error by the first baseman. That error allowed Laidley to score and gave the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead after one.
The Tigers would come roaring back in the second inning. After two walks and a single loaded the bases with one out the Tigers would come through with a single that plated one run to tie the game. The next batter would untie the game with a bases clearing triple to make the score 4-1. That batter would then score on a passed ball and just like that the Blue Jays trailed 5-1.
The Jays would strike back in the bottom half of inning number two. Mackenzie Meyers and Brooke Bledsoe would start things off with back to back singles. Kasey Ginder would then bunt them over into
scoring position. Maddie Marrero then reached base on a throwing error by the pitcher that allowed both Bledsoe and Myers to score. Marrero would end up on second. Laney Rosson would add an RBI single and Katie Price would ground out to shortstop to drive in a run. When the dust settled the Blue Jays found themselves ahead 7-5 thanks to 6 hits in the inning. The Blue Jays would add a run in the Third to stretch their lead to 8-5 on an Emily Esquivel RBI single.
The score would remain that way for the next several innings as Blue Jay pitcher Katie Price would settle in. In the sixth inning Stillman College would turn an error by the Blue Jays into a couple runs. The lead was now trimmed to just one 8-7. The veteran Price would come through for the Blue Jays with a three up, three down, in the top of the seventh inning to preserve the season opening win!
Price pitched a complete game. She gave up four earned runs on seven hits. She struck out six while walking three in rout to the victory. Freshman Emily Esquivel playing in her first collegiate game went 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI. Senior Brooklyn Bledsoe also collected two hits going 2-3 and scoring two runs. Eva Gannon also earned her firs college hit. Laney Rosson went one for one with an RBI. She also drew three walks.
The second game of the day for the Blue Jays was against the Rhodes College Lynx. The Lynx put pressure on the Blue Jays early by building a 6-1 lead after 2 innings. The Blue Jays would get a couple runs back in the top of the fifth on an Esquivel RBI sac fly and a Brooke Laidley RBI Double.
Brooklyn Bledsoe would get the Blue Jays even closer after her RBI triple in the top of the sixth cut the lead to 6-4. The Blue Jays would unfortunately manage to strand Bledsoe at third. The stage was set for the seventh inning but the Lynx would set the Blue Jays down in order to win the game 6-4.
Westminster pitcher Erin Carr made her first collegiate start. She went six innings giving up six runs on nine hits. Carr struck out one and walked four. Brooke Laidley was again the Blue Jays hits leader going 2 for 4 with an RBI double. Brooklyn Bledsoe went one for three with an RBI triple.
