AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Urbana University softball team split its Opening Day doubleheader Friday at The Spring Games with a 5-4 win over Mercyhurst as freshman
Ashley Fite led off the seventh inning with the go-ahead home run.
It was the program's first season-opening victory since the 2015 season.
UU (1-1) suffered a 12-6 setback to the University of Mary in the nightcap.
The squad will resume its week-long trip in the Sunshine State at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning against Post University. UU will play Holy Family in the second game on Saturday.
The Blue Knights were slated to take on West Chester, but the Rams did not travel to Florida as a precautionary measure due to the coronavirus outbreak in the United States.
In Friday's first game, Urbana jumped out to a 4-0 lead through four frames following RBI singles from three freshmen in their debut, including
Kaelyn Stenger,
Ashley Fite and
Lexi Mattix, along with the first career home run by sophomore
Madison Bryant.
Bryant also drew the start in the circle and recorded seven strikeouts in five innings.
The local product from Graham High School allowed just four hits, two walks and two unearned runs to cross in the fifth inning.
Mercyhurst was able to plate two more in the sixth off reliever
Sam Davis to even the score at 4-4. All four runs for the Lakers were scored on two-out singles.
Fite delivered the blast in the seventh, a solo shot to left center off a 0-2 pitch, to put the Blue Knights on top. The New Carlisle native finished 2 for 4 at the plate.
Junior
Kayleigh Pate shut down the Lakers in the seventh for her first save.
Bryant and Mattix each had two hits while another freshman
McKinley Alberts led the way with three base knocks in her debut.
In the second game, Urbana trailed 3-0 after UMary's Emma Noble homered in the first inning as the Marauders used that momentum to build a 7-2 lead after five.
UMary plated five more in the top of the seventh as the lead swelled to 10; however, the Blue Knights made things interesting with four runs in their final at-bat after loading the bases with no outs.
Macey Hartman made her debut and led the way with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate. The freshman from Arcanum registered an RBI double in the fifth.
Both teams had five errors and the Blue Knights were outhit 17-8.
Pate started Game 2 and surrendered four earned on eight hits with four strikeouts.
Jade Laviolette made her return to the circle with a relief appearance. The junior right-hander sat out all of last season with an injury. Fite finished the game in the circle.
