SAN ANTONIO, Texas – It was opening day for the Green Bay softball team the UIW Invitational on Friday, with the Phoenix splitting their first two games of the season. GB secured a 7-4 win over conference foe Cleveland State in the season opener before falling to UIW 9-4 in game two.
GAME 1
The Phoenix got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Green Bay put up a three-spot, the big hit coming by way of a run-scoring double off the bat of Randi McKay.
The Phoenix then lost some of their lead, expanding on their advantage in the fourth inning after the Vikings cut it to 3-1. GB scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-run homer from Isabella Curtin, which brought the Phoenix lead to 6-1.
Green Bay held Cleveland State scoreless before building their lead to 7-1 in the sixth inning. The Phoenix added a run when senior Alicia Peters drew a walk from sophomore Jenna Watts that scored senior Tiffany Giese. Cleveland State put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but GB still held on for the 7-4 win.
Senior Brittany Baneck (1-0) started in the circle and picked up the win for Green Bay (1-0). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up four runs, all of them earned, on 11 hits, allowing one walk and striking out six.
Curtin led the way offensively for the Phoenix, going 1-for-4 in the ballgame with a home run and two RBIs. McKay put together a noteworthy day at the plate as well, going 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Sophomore Jadin Justman also helped out, going 2-for-3 for Green Bay with a double and two RBIs.
GAME NOTES
» Green Bay's highest-scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed three runs across.
» GB took a 3-1 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Green Bay went 4-for-12 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
» Cleveland State was led offensively by sophomore Kiera Frascone, who went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
» Watts led the Vikings pitching staff, throwing 3.1 innings of one-run ball.
GAME 2
GB got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning. GB plated two runs when Saloun left the yard with Justman aboard.
The Cardinals then rallied to score eight runs and take an 8-2 lead before the Phoenix got back on the board in the fourth. Green Bay picked up a run on Edwards' leadoff home run off of sophomore Madison Floyd, which tightened the Cardinals' lead to 8-3.
Incarnate Word built their lead to 9-3 before the Green Bay offense got back to work, reducing that lead to 9-4 in the sixth. The Phoenix were unable to get any closer, as neither team scored again in the ballgame.
Senior Lauren King (0-1) got the ball to start for Green Bay (1-1) and took the loss.
Becca Edwards had a home run and an RBI to lead the Phoenix. Sophomore Samantha Saloun had a noteworthy effort as well, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, and two RBIs. Sophomore Jadin Justman also contributed for GB, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate.
GAME NOTES
» Edwards led the Phoenix, amassing three base hits in the ballgame.
» Green Bay's power output was led by Saloun, who compiled two extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Incarnate Word was led offensively by freshman Avalon Sanchez, who went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.
» Floyd led the Cardinals pitching staff, throwing 4.2 innings of two-run ball.
UP NEXT
Green Bay will be back tomorrow with a doubleheader starting with Prairie View A&M at 12:45 p.m. CT. Following, they'll have a shot at revenge against Incarnate Word at 6:15 p.m.
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