The softball team opened its season over the weekend at the Orange Blossom Tournament in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, going up against five different teams.
On Friday, the Owls split their two games, dropping the opener to Hofstra 8-0 but bounced back to defeat Bethune-Cookman 9-7. Sophomore Olivia Tamewitz had the lone hit for the Owls in the first game and continued to shine in the evening affair against the Wildcats. Veterans and new faces alike featured for the Owls in their victory.
Two hitting juggernauts for the Owls last season, Tamewitz and Hannah Thomason, played major roles during Friday’s victory. In total, they combined for four hits and four runs against the Wildcats.
The most notable contribution in the game came from freshman first baseman Patricia Awald who went 3-3 with four runs batted in. Fellow newcomers Meredith Milam, Alexa Solorzano and Raleigh Williams were also involved in the scoring as the freshmen Owls totaled 7 hits.
The Owls would lose both of Saturday’s games, including a tight 5-4 outing against Quinnipiac and an 8-0 loss to Northern Iowa, the Owls rebounded on Sunday to defeat Long Island University Brooklyn. The Owls triumphed against the Blackbirds 10-0 in a game that was shortened to six innings due to the score margin.
Home runs by senior Noelle Winkles and junior Kira Czyrklis highlighted the rout while transfer player Abby Deane had her first outing as a starting pitcher after having been a relief pitcher in two previous games.
Awald added two more hits to her early tally with the Owls while sophomore Katey Lynch had two hits and two runs. Seven of the 10 runs made by the Owls were scored in the final inning as Czyrklis led all hitters with three hits, and Winkles contributed half of the team’s runs batted in.
The Owls will look to build off that late burst of momentum as they make their home debut at the Bobbie Bailey Memorial Tournament, which will be held from Feb. 23-25. They will have doubleheaders against Rutgers and Morehead State before wrapping up the tournament against Florida A&M.
