Blue Raiders Drop Two Games at Eagle Classic

STATESBORO, Ga. - Middle Tennessee softball (0-2) had a rough outing in its first games of the season, falling to Morehead State (4-2) 1-0 and host Georgia Southern (7-10) 9-1 at the Eagle Classic on Friday.

Game 1: Morehead State 1, Middle Tennessee 0

Moorehead State struck first in the bottom of the first inning, which would prove to be the only run of the game. Michelle McCrady started off the inning with a double to the left field wall. A sacrifice by Krystle Coleman sent McCrady to third to set up a scoring opportunity. Ashley Katinas' wild pitch allowed McCrady to score the first run of the game. Katinas, however, responded by striking out the final two batters to end the inning.

Middle Tennessee failed to score on one of its best opportunities of the game with runners at second and third and one out in the top of the fifth. Leath Grothause bunted the ball in attempt to send Jennifer Grybash home but she was thrown out at the plate. Grothause advanced to second on the play, leaving runners in scoring position again. Melissa Weiland ground out to the third baseman to end the Blue Raider threat.

Overall, the Blue Raiders had a base runner in six of the seven innings but failed to push one around. Middle Tennessee left nine base runners in the game and twice had a runner at third base.

Katinas took the loss in the game, lasting four innings and allowing just one hit, one earned run, giving up one walk and striking out six. Crystal Bobo came in for the final two innings of the game giving up one hit and striking out one.

Chrisi Benton went 2-for-3 in the game led Middle Tennessee and Liz Davis hit the first double of the season for the Blue Raiders.

Game 2: Georgia Southern 9, Middle Tennessee 1

A Middle Tennessee error allowed Georgia Southern to score a run in the bottom of the first. With the Eagles Nicole Gutierrez on second, Robyne Sillga hit a ball to the shortstop, an errant throw allowed Sillga to reach first and Gutierrez to score. Georgia Southern was threatening to score again when Maria Laurato hit a single to centerfield. Guiterrez attempted to go home but a strike by centerfielder Trish White was right on the money for the third out of the inning.

Two consecutive singles opened the second inning for the Blue Raiders with Weiland's single advancing Jennifer Dorais to third base. Middle Tennessee scored its first run of the season when sophomore White hit a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Dorais to tie the game at one.

Georgia Southern exploded for five in the bottom of the second inning. Bobo, who started the game on the mound, went one and a third innings before she was pulled and replaced by Katinas. The Eagles had six hits in the inning with nine players coming to the plate.

In the bottom of the third, Georgia Southern added three more runs. Katinas loaded the bases by allowing three walks. The Eagles made the Blue Raiders pay as Shanita Black's single scored the first run of the inning and two more runs scored off a single by Heather Smith.

Bobo took the loss in the game, allowing the first run when the game was tied 1-1 in a game that went five innings. Dorais led the Blue Raiders at the plate going 2-for-2 and scoring the lone run.

Middle Tennessee returns to action on Saturday at the Eagle Classic to face St. Francis University at 10 a.m. The teams will then enter bracket play.

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