MARQUETTE, Mich. – Despite posting just three hits in a 4-0 loss to UW-Superior in their season opener, the Edgewood College softball team showed off their bats and some offensive potential in a heartbreaking 12-11 loss in eight innings to host Finlandia. The Eagles led 10-6 after the sixth inning, but saw their lead disappear late in the nightcap on day one of the Finlandia Dome Tournament.
It was tough going in the season opener against UW-Superior as the Eagles (0-2) were held without a hit until freshman leadoff hitter, third baseman Laurissa Belott, knocked home her first career hit with a ground-rule double in the top of the sixth.
Yellow Jacket starter Macy Hanson (1-0) surrendered just two more hits and struck out 13 over seven innings to give UW-Superior their first win of the season. Eagle starter Shannon Whitmus (0-1), who set multiple single-season school records last season including starts and appearances, was tagged for the loss after giving up four runs (two earned) and six hits over six innings.
The Eagles bats came alive in game two, but faltered late in the 12-11, eight-inning defeat to Finlandia. Despite the loss, the Eagles still scored 11 runs in their second game of the year in what took them nine games to accomplish last season.
Belott continued her hot start for the Eagles after finishing 4 of 5 from the leadoff spot with one RBI and two runs. Fellow freshman Amanda Meister, who also started the game on the mound, pounded out two hits, one RBI, and scored a team-high four runs. Junior Jordan Anderson, freshman Hanna Fisher, and freshman Callie Ziegler added two hits apiece and combined for four RBIs. Overall, 10 of the Eagles 15 hits came from freshmen.
Unearned runs plagued both defenses in a game that saw a combined 23 runs, 30 hits, and seven errors. The Eagles established leads of 3-0 and 5-4 until Finlandia tied it up at 5 apiece through the fifth inning. Meister, Belott, and the Eagles quickly responded with five runs over the next two innings to take a 10-6 advantage heading into the sixth. The pair of dynamic freshman each added an RBI single and a run scored during the five-run spurt to put their team ahead.
After a scoreless sixth, the Lions (2-0) responded with four runs in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. Whitmus, who came in relief of Meister in the fourth inning, endured a wild sequence of events during the Lions comeback in the seventh. After striking out the leadoff batter, the Lions got a walk, wild pitch, hit by pitch, and a steal to help load the bases with one out.
A 2-run double by Emily Nguyen highlighted the scoring for the Lions, who managed two more unearned runs after that to tie it up. In the top of the eighth, the Eagles mustered up an RBI single by freshman Hanna Fisher, but her and teammate Grace Delleman were both caught in a double-play rundown at second base and home, respectively, to end the rally.
The Lions utilized a pair of RBI singles, including Nguyen's game winner with the bases loaded, and an Eagle error to remain undefeated. Nguyen finished 2-for-5 with a game-high three RBIs and was one of five Lions with multiple hits.
Whitmus suffered the loss, but was hampered by a defense that gave up four unearned runs on four untimely errors. The senior tossed 4.1 innings of relief and struck out three. Meister threw 3.1 innings in her first career start and gave up six runs (five earned) while striking out three.
The Eagles go for their first win of the season against UW-Stevens Point (7:00 am CT) and Northland College (11:00 am CT) on Sunday, February 25 on the final day of the Finlandia Dome Tournament.
