Auburndale, FL – The Owls softball team competed in their first games of the year in their two game day. Competing in their Florida Spring Break trip, the Owls fell 10-1 to Nazareth College and 8-0 to Wisconsin Superior.

Game 1 (10-1 – Nazareth):

How it happened:

With the game even at zero in the first two innings, only one hit, the Owls were the first ones to get on the board as senior captain Jordan Hansen (Phillips, NE) hit an RBI single to put the Owls on the board and up by one run. Nazareth quickly answered with a big fourth inning, scoring four runs on three hits as the Owls had two errors on the innings. Nazareth kept the scoring going while they scored one more run in the fifth, three in the sixth and two more in the seventh while keeping the Owls to only one hit in the final three innings.

On the mound:

Olivia Riitano (Abbot, ME) got her first start of the year as she pitched the first 4.1 innings, finishing with one strikeout and allowing four earned runs and walking five batters. Hansen pitched the final 2.2 innings striking out two batters, walking seven and allowing four earned runs. Funk earned the win on the mound for Nazareth, pitching the first four innings striking out six batters and only allowing one earned run and three hits.

At the plate:

Alyssa Merone (Dover, NH) led the Owls with two hits on three at bats while Hansen earned the Owls only RBI in the game, finishing hitting one for three on the game. The Owls finished with four hits on the game.

Game 2 (8-0 – Wis. Superior):

How it happened:

The struggled at the plate as Superior came out strong with two runs in the first off two hits. Scoring three more in the third off two hits and an error, and another three in the fourth off two triples and a passed ball.  While the Owls were shut out in the five inning game.

On the mound:

Olivia Riitano (Abbot, ME) started this second game as well, pitching the first 3.2 innings, striking out four batters and allowing five earned runs and eight hits. Jordan Hansen (Phillips, NE) finished the game with the final out, earning a strikeout.  

At the plate:

Alyssa Merone (Dover, NH) led the Owls in the second game as well, earning two hits on her three at bats. The Owls finished the game with five hits on 20 at bats and five strikeouts.

The Owls will continue their spring trip with two more games tomorrow vs Brockport and Skidmore.