AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Urbana University starting pitchers
Madison Bryant and
Kayleigh Pate each spun complete-game three-hitters in Sunday's doubleheader sweep at The Spring Games hosted by PFX Athletics.
Urbana (4-2) edged Assumption College 1-0 and pulled out a thrilling 3-1 victory in the nightcap over Minnesota State-Moorhead. The Blue Knights are off to their best start since the 2013 season.
In Game 1, senior
Mykee Holtz delivered a one-out single in the bottom of the second to plate the lone run. Freshman
Ashley Fite came around to score after leading off the frame with a base hit.
The Blue Knights totaled seven hits but stranded six runners. Junior
Britney Bonno led with a 2-for-3 effort with a pair of singles while sophomore
Mackenzie Frantz hit a leadoff double in the third.
Bryant found her groove in the circle and retired 12 straight batters from the third through sixth innings. The sophomore right hander struck out seven and walked a pair while only facing four batters above the minimum in her first career shutout.
Assumption threatened to tie the game twice in the final at-bat.
After a leadoff triple, Bryant induced a ground out and then got a force play at the plate as third baseman
Erin Gardner cut down the tying run. The Greyhounds had the tying run in scoring position again following a walk, but Bryant buckled down to strike out the final batter.
ASC starter Giuliana Pierce (2.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R) was tagged with the loss in the season opener for the Greyhounds.
In Game 2, sophomore
Mia Smallwood came on as a pinch hitter with two outs in the sixth and launched a go-ahead, two-run homer to break a 1-1 tie. It was the first long ball of her collegiate career.
Pate closed the door on MSU-Moorhead by retiring six of seven batters. The junior from Indianapolis improved to 2-1 by allowing one earned on three hits.
Fite went 2 for 3 with a walk while eight others had a base knock. The Blue Knights outhit the Dragons, 10-3, but stranded eight runners.
MSU's Anna Lang (1-2) took the loss in 6.1 innings of work.
UP NEXT: Urbana will have a day off Monday before returning to action Tuesday and Wednesday to close out the Florida trip.
The Blue Knights will play Rockhurst and Northwood Tuesday morning in Auburndale. Then, Wednesday's games are scheduled against UIndy and Wayne State in Winter Haven.
