Softball 2/17/2012 8:59:00 PM Tyler Madsen, Truman Athletics

Bats Blast Bulldogs Past UMSL for Day One Split

TSU/QU Box Score
TSU/UMSL Box Score

DECATUR, Ala. - - Behind a 10-run, 11-hit performance against the Missouri-St. Louis Tritons, the Truman softball team salvaged a split to open its 2012 campaign on Friday afternoon at the Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout.

The Bulldogs (1-1) fell 2-1 to Quincy (Ill.) in Friday's opener before rebounding to bash UMSL 10-5 in the nightcap. Truman will play twice on Saturday at 8:30 am (vs. Southern Indiana) and at 10:30 am (vs. Maryville (Mo.)) to continue the Chillout.

Truman opened its 2012 season with a one-run loss to the QU Hawks, getting hits from senior Katie Pitts (Jefferson City, Mo., Helias), sophomore Corey Niblett (Troy, Mo., Troy Buchanan) and freshman Andrea Klipsch (St. Louis, Mo., Lindbergh).

The Bulldogs fell behind 1-0 in the bottom of the first after leaving two aboard in the top half when QU got an RBI single off the bat of Ashleigh Roscetti.

Quincy made it 2-0 in the fifth on a two-out single by pitcher Lauren Francis.

Truman got on the board in the top of the seventh when freshman Ally McReynolds (Wildwood, Mo., Eureka), who pinch-hit and was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a groundout and to third on a passed ball before touching home on a Klipsch two-out single. However, the rally stopped there as sophomore Kelsey Bollman (Maquoketa, Iowa, Maquoketa) grounded out to second base in her first official at-bat following a pair of walks and a hit by pitch.

Senior Ashley Rotkvich (Crestwood, Ill., Shepard) picked up the loss after tossing 5.2 innings of two-run, eight-hit ball. Freshman Kelsea Dorsey (Clarksville, Mo., Clopton) closed out the bottom of the sixth in her first appearance, notching a strikeout.

The second game of the day told a completely different story for the 'Dogs, as Truman opened up a 6-2 lead through two innings and never looked back in a 10-5 win. Returning all-MIAA performers junior Laura Miller (Columbia, Mo., Hickman) and senior Bridget Schade (Herculaneum, Mo., Herculaneum) tallied three hits apiece and scored a combined five runs, while Dorsey earned a complete game win in the circle.

The game's turning point came in the bottom of the second when, with the bases loaded and two outs, Schade delivered a bases-clearing double down the left field line to push what was then a 3-2 lead to a four-run gap.

UMSL (1-1) would make it 6-3 in the top of the third, but two more runs in the fifth and sixth helped back Dorsea, who became the first Bulldog since March of last season to record seven strikeouts in a game. She walked just one, while freshman Elizabeth Leath (St. Charles, Mo., Francis Howell Central) added a pair of hits and Pitts, junior Meredith Kusky (Ballwin, Mo., Nerinx Hall), and freshman Cate Simon (O'Fallon, Mo., Fort Zumwalt South) all notched a base-knock of their own.

Truman made the most of its chances on Friday, going a perfect 5-for-5 stealing bases as a unit and putting down three sacrifice bunts. The 'Dogs also were patient at the plate, drawing seven walks.

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