Bulldogs Open Florida Trip with Two Wins
CLEARMONT, Fla. - The Truman Softball team opened play in "The Spring Games" with two wins on Friday morning. The Bulldogs started the day with a 7-1 win over Saint Anselm and finished the day by defeating Adelphi 4-2.
Saint Anselm Box Score
A big second inning gave the Bulldogs the early lead in this contest. Adrienne Compton led off the inning reaching base on a Saint Anslem error. McKenzie West would follow suit with a single down the right-field line putting runners on first and second. A Breianna Klein walk would load the bases with two outs. Cameryn Patterson took advantage of the opportunity and put Truman on the board with a two-RBI double that scored Compton and West putting the Bulldogs up 2-0. With two runners on, Emma Walbert kept the bats hot with a single to second base scoring two more runs to give Truman the 4-0 lead.
Alyssa Hajduk was dominant on the mound keeping the Hawks scoreless through four innings of play. Hajduk had six strikeouts in those four allowing two hits.
With two outs in the bottom of the third, Compton singled to left. West stepped to the plate and had plans to extend the Truman lead as she crushed a two-run homer to right-field pushing the margin to six. In the bottom of the fourth, Macy Taylor would enter the game to pinch-run for Patterson who had walked and would eventually score on a passed ball that put the Bulldogs up 7-1. The Truman pitching and defense would stay solid to secure the game one win.
West had a big game finishing the game 2-for-2 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI. Patterson would finish 1-for-2 with two walks, one run scored, and two RBIs. Walbert was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and Compton was 1-for-2 with two runs scored.
Hajduk pitched the 23rd complete game of her career allowing five hits and one run with 10 strikeouts.
Adelphi Box Score
The Panthers got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning on a single to short. The Bulldogs looked to answer back in the top of the third after a Taylor Spencer single and a Patterson single, but they were unable to take advantage of the baserunners.
In the top of the fourth West got the Bulldogs on the board with her second long ball of the day tying the game at one. The Truman defense held Adelphi scoreless in the bottom half of the inning. The Bulldog bats would start rolling again in the top of the fifth. Lauren Stade led the inning off with a single to centerfield. Spencer would move the runner into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Walbert was hit by the pitch putting runners on first and second. Alyssa Rivera punched a double out to centerfield that would score two runs putting Truman up 3-1. Lauren Bowman followed with an RBI single to left field giving the Bulldogs a 4-1 lead.
Klein would shut the Panthers down in the fifth and sixth innings to keep the lead. In the bottom of the seventh, Rachael Kernich entered the game for the save allowing one hit and one run to help the Bulldogs hold on for the 4-2 victory.
West had another good game going 2-for-3 with a home run, one RBI, and one run scored. Rivera was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Walbert finished 1-for-3 with an RBI. Spencer finished the game 1-for-2 at the plate.
Klein got the win pitching six innings, allowing seven hits, and only two earned runs. Kernich was able to secure her first save of the season.
Up Next
The Bulldogs will play again Saturday against the University of Minnesota Duluth (5-6) at 8:15 a.m. (CT) followed by a matchup with Saginaw Valley State (10-2) at 12:30 p.m. (CT)
