Conway, AR 2/18/2022- The Westminster College softball had their opening day on Saturday in Conway, Arkansas as they are competing in the 2023 Warrior Spring Fling this weekend. They faced off against Centenary College in game 1 and the host Hendrix College in game 2. The Blue Jays would lose game one 20-7. They would bounce back in game 2 to come back and tie the game 6-6 and force extra innings. Westminster would lose 7-6 after Hendrix could score at the bottom of the ninth.
Game 1- Vs Centenary College: Box Score
Senior pitcher Erin Carr (Woodlawn, Il / Christ Our Rock Lutheran) would get the start on the bump to start the season. The Blue Jays got off to a rocky start as this was their first time actually playing and fielding on dirt as the weather in Fulton has forced them to practice inside in the lead-up to opening weekend. They would commit seven errors in the game, but the Ladies of Centenary also came out swinging, hitting two home runs in the first inning and jumping out to a 5-0 lead. The Blue Jays would respond in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three runs of their own. Errors would continue to haunt the Blue Jays, which led to two big innings by Centenary in the 2nd and 3rd innings. Tatum Bradshaw (Winfield, MO / Winfield) would hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 5th to end the game on a high note. The Blue Jays would ultimately lose the game 20-7 but have some momentum heading into their second game of the day.
Game 2- Vs Hendrix College: Box Score
Haley Miller (O'Fallon, MO / Liberty) got the start in game two and would go six innings, giving up three hits and three runs. She would strike out two batters and walk three. The Warriors got to Miller early, who would give up those three runs in the first inning. She would settle in and pitch a gem from the 2nd inning on. Kelsey Logan (Fulton, Mo / South Callaway) got the Blue Jays on the board with a suicide squeeze to score Felicity Kirby (Camdenton, MO / Camdenton). The Warriors would score a run in the bottom of the second to go up 4-1. Westminster would strike again in the fourth, scoring three runs to tie the game 4-4. Hendrix would score two runs in the bottom of the 6th after some errors by the Jays' defense. At the top of the 7th, the Blue Jays would get two quick outs. The next Blue Jay batter would reach on an error. Eva Gannon (Wentzville, Mo. / Holt) stepped to the plate and hit a triple to right field, scoring a run. Gannon would then score on a wild pitch to tie the game 6-6. The game would roll on to the 9th inning, the Blue Jays bats would go quiet in the top of the 9th. At the bottom of the 9th, the warriors would have a runner on second to start the because of the extra innings rules. They would hit a ground ball to the Blue Jays' second baseman, who would bobble the ball and commit a throwing error. The run would score on the play. The Warriors would walk it off and win 7-6.
The Blue Jays will be back in action tomorrow when they take on Centenary at 10:00 AM and Hendrix at 12:30 PM.
