By: Stephen Wagner
GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) – The Green Bay softball team (2-7) kicked off the Michele Smith Tournament this morning, playing back-to-back games against Lehigh (10-3) and Rutgers (7-6). The Phoenix fought hard in both contests, but was unable secure a victory on the first day of the tournament.
Lehigh 3, Green Bay 2
Green Bay started the game against Lehigh with back-to-back outs in the top of the first. However, with two outs Abby Brinkmeier stepped up to the plate and got things rolling for Green Bay with a double to center. Following Brinkmeier's at-bat, Jaclyn Delagrange was able to reach on an error and advance to second, scoring Brinkmeier in the process. With one on and two outs, Allie Taylor stepped up to the plate for the Phoenix. Taylor did not disappoint, knocking one into left field to score Delagrange on an RBI single.
The Phoenix defense stayed strong for the first two innings, giving up zero hits, zero runs and only permitting a single error. However, the third inning saw some success for the Lehigh offense. The Mountain Hawks' Deckner stepped up to the plate with one out, one on and knotted things up with a two-run homer.
The fourth and fifth innings did not see much offensive action for either team, as Green Bay accumulated two hits in the innings and held Lehigh hitless for the stretch. The Phoenix saw a little excitement in the top of the sixth, as Ashley Baker and Alyssa Johnson turned in back-to-back singles for Green Bay. However, the Phoenix was unable to capitalize on the two base runners, scoring no runs in the inning and heading into the bottom of the sixth tied at two.
Lehigh did not waste any time taking control of the game in the bottom of the inning, with LU's Lattanzio sending one over the left field wall to give the Mountain Hawks a 3-2 lead. Green Bay was unable to answer the run in the top of the seventh, falling to Lehigh 3-2.
Briana Cavin spent all six innings in the circle for Green Bay, fanning three batters, giving up six hits and allowing three runs on the day. Taylor collected the sole RBI for the Phoenix, finishing the game 1-for-3 at the plate.
Green Bay outhit Lehigh 7-6 but was unable to capitalize on base runners, stranding eight to fall 3-2 in the opening game of the tournament.
Rutgers 11, Green Bay 5
The game began with the makings of a pitchers' duel, with Heather Sanderson only giving up a single hit in the first three innings, and Rutgers' Sweeney allowing two. Rutgers sole hit in the first three innings came from Hall in the bottom of the third, as Hall hit a solo shot to give the Scarlet Knights a 1-0 lead.
The top of the fourth saw the first Phoenix runs of the game touch home plate, as Taylor, Delagrange and Katelyn Huemmer hit three singles to load the bases with two outs remaining for the Phoenix. The next at-bat belonged to Allie Hislpope, with Hislope earning a walk and an RBI as Otto scored the first run for the Phoenix. The next plate appearance for Green Bay went to Miranda Spangberg, who kept the successful inning alive with a single to left, scoring Hailee Frey and giving Green Bay the 2-1 advantage heading into the bottom of the fourth.
Rutgers did not take long to respond, as Howard reached on a fielding error and Bates capitalized on Green Bay's mistake, hitting a two-run home run to regain the lead for Rutgers, 3-2.
Green Bay made things interesting in the top of the sixth, when back-to-back walks of Huemmer and Hislope proved to be costly for the Scarlet Knights. With Huemmer on first, Hislope on second and one out remaining for Green Bay, Johnson stepped up to the plate and hit a three-run home run to give Green Bay a 5-3 lead in the sixth inning.
Rutgers did not falter in the bottom of the sixth, scoring eight runs off of seven hits to hold an 11-5 edge over the Phoenix heading into the final inning of play.
The Phoenix was unable to get any sort of rally started in the seventh, with Hailey Mohrfeld, Brinkmeier and Talylor going three up, three down to end the game and give Rutgers the 11-5 victory.
Heather Sanderson pitched 5.1 innings for the Phoenix, allowing eight hits, nine runs (eight earned) and collected five strikeouts. Alyssa Johnson had a great game at the plate for the Phoenix, going 2-for-3 and collecting three RBIs in the game.
The Phoenix continues the Michele Smith Tournament tomorrow, with games against Western Michigan and USF slated for 10:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., respectively.
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