By Rachel Buck (@GBRachel)
CLEARWATER, Fla. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – The Green Bay softball team continued its winning ways as it opened the USF Michele Smith Spring Break Tournament with two wins on Friday from Clearwater.
Green Bay topped Yale, 2-0, in game one before defeating LIU-Brooklyn in an offensive outpouring, 9-3. The win improved the Phoenix record to 6-1 this season.
GAME ONE: Green Bay 2, Yale 0
It took until the fifth inning for Green Bay to get on the board, but the Phoenix got all the runs it needed on a two-RBI double from sophomore Marissa Michalkiewicz (Appleton, Wis.) as it topped Yale, 2-0, in game one of the weekend tournament.
With one out in the top of the fifth, Junior Tia Collins (Orfordville, Wis.) and sophomore Kelli Hutchinson (Trevor, Wis.) connected on back-to-back hits and one batter later senior Miranda Reinke (Milwaukee, Wis.) reached on an error by the Yale third baseman to load the bases. Michalkiewicz then stepped to the plate and delivered a two-RBI double to center, giving the Phoenix all the runs it needed to take home the win.
Freshman Heather Sanderson (Rapid River, Mich.) pitched a complete game shutout for the Phoenix to pick up her second win of the season.
GAME TWO: Green Bay 9, LIU-Brooklyn 3
In game two of the day the Phoenix bats struck early with six of its seven runs coming in the first two innings as it ran past LIU-Brooklyn, 9-3.
Green Bay put five runs on the scoreboard in the top of the first to put the game out of reach early. With runners on first and second with one out, senior Shannon Butts (Greenfield, Wis.) singled up the middle to drive in the first run. Sister Stacey then singled through the left side to load the bases before freshman Katelyn Huemmer (Sun Prairie, Wis.) reached on a fielder's choice that caught Shannon out at second, but allowed one more run to cross home plate.
Freshman Abby Brinkmeier (Eagan, Minn.) stepped to the plate and hit what looked to be a routine groundout, but LIU's first baseman lost the throw from the shortstop, allowing Brinkmeier to reach safely before advancing to second while Stacey Butts scored, unearned. The final runs of the inning also came unearned, as junior Miranda Spangberg (Wausau, Wis.) singled to left field for an RBI before Brinkmeier crossed home plate on a wild pitch for the 5-0 Phoenix lead.
Green Back tacked on another run in the top of the second inning on a Shannon Butts RBI single up the middle to go up 6-0 and added three more runs in the top of the seventh with an RBI single from junior Lauren Danner (Kaukauna, Wis.) and a two-RBI single by freshman Allie Taylor (Waunakee, Wis.).
The Phoenix held the Blackbirds scoreless through six before they added three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but the late rally wasn't enough as the Phoenix picked up the win.
Senior Ashley Nannemann (Burlington, Wis.) earned her second win of the season and second complete game, limiting LIU to just one hit over the first five innings and five total hits in the game. All three runs allowed were earned, while she also added two walks and a strikeout.
Shannon Butts finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBI and Taylor was 1-for-2 with two RBI, finishing as the only Phoenix to drive in multiple runs.
Green Bay returns to action tomorrow, Taking on Bryant at 3:30 p.m. and Quinnipiac at 5:45 p.m.
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