Spartan softball splits day one play
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Opening the 2008 season, the Southwestern softball team split a pair of games Monday at the Snowbird Tournament.
To open the tournament, the Spartans took a commanding 17-0 victory over Massasoit Community College of Massachusetts in five innings. Southwestern scored seven runs in the first and third innings, helped primarily by bases on ball opportunities.
“For both teams, it was the first game,” said Southwestern coach Lindsay Stumpff. “They haven’t been outside either. We covered our nerves a little better than they did. Ashtyn (Neill) came out ready to go and if our pitcher is starting out well, everyone else follows.”
Neill struck out seven while allowing just three walks. Brittney Auten led the team with three RBIs while Tiffany Jeanes collected a pair of hits.
In game two, a home run by Auten tied the game with Brookdale Community College (N.J.) at 5-5 in the top of the seventh inning, but a home run by Brookdale with one out in the bottom half sent the Spartans to a 6-5 defeat.
Kaylee Harris and Angie Hawkins were each 3-of-4 at the plate while Auten was 2-for-3. Neill collected two RBIs. Tiffany Coon, pitching her first community college game, took the loss after allowing eight hits and one walk while striking out three.
Through two games, the Spartans have accumulated 22 runs and 18 hits — showing that the offense is off to a solid start.
“That’s what we worked on most of the winter,” said Stumpff. “You don’t get a whole lot of defensive opportunities inside. Hopefully that will continue.”
Southwestern 17,
Massasoit (Mass.) 0
R H E
Massasoit 000 00 — 0 2 3
SWCC 717 2x — 17 7 0
S: Ashtyn Neill 7K 3BB and Angie Hawkins. M: Foster and Kellcer. W — Neill. L— Foster. 2B — Brittney Auten, Cortni Livengood, Neill. RBI — Auten 3. Multiple hitters — Tiffany Jeanes 2.
Brookdale (N.J.) 6,
Southwestern 5
R H E
SWCC 103 000 1 — 5 11 1
BCC 220 001 1 — 6 8 1
S: Tiffany Coon 3K 1BB and Angie Hawkins. B: Erby and Rubel. W — Erby. L— Coon. HR — Brittney Auten. 2B — Ashtyn Neill, Tiffany Troutwine. RBI — Neill 2, Auten 1. Multiple hitters — Kaylee Harris 3, Hawkins 3, Auten 2.
