Anderson Secures Win against Berea in Season Opener

The Anderson University softball team opened up their 2022 season with their yearly Florida trip on Friday in Leesburg, Fla. The Ravens (1-1) came out swinging in their first game of the day as they defeated the Berea College Mountaineers (3-5) by a score of 9-2. Game two on the other hand did not go in favor of the Ravens as they fell to the D'Youville College Saints (6-0) by a score of 9-1.

GAME 1: ANDERSON 9, BEREA 2

The Ravens kicked off their spring break trip with a multi-run game against Berea College. Both sides struggled to get any offense going in the first two innings before the Ravens came out swinging.

In the top of the third inning, Anderson found their stride on the offensive side of the ball. The Ravens had found themselves with a runner on first and second with one out when Ashley Wheeler stepped up to bat. Wheeler sent the ball up the middle for a single, and ultimately reach second on the throw. Jayden Brown scored to put the Ravens up on the board. Molly Buck followed in the next at bat with a single through the left side to bring in Kayla Dillinger. Buck then stole second to give the Ravens two runners in scoring position. A throwing error then followed to allow Brianna Bell to reach first and send Buck to third and Wheeler home to put the Ravens up 3-0 over Berea. The runs weren't done yet for Anderson though as Buck scored off a Kyleigh Lowry sacrifice fly. The final run of the inning then came after an Alysa Marcin single down right field brought in Bell.

In the bottom of the third, the Mountaineers were able to bring in one run after a single by Madison McIntosh. At the end of the third inning, the Ravens held a 5-1 lead over the Mountaineers.

Berea's final run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth when Madison Yates singled up the middle to bring in Savannah Fallis.

A scoreless fifth inning followed before the Ravens put up a four-run sixth inning to improve their score. After going to the count early with one out, the Ravens loaded the bases with their next three batters. Then, with a single into center field by Dillinger, the Ravens were able to score two runners. The third run followed in the next at bat off another single into center field, this time by Wheeler. The final run of the inning and the game then came after a fielder's choice that allowed Dillinger to reach home.

Anderson's nine-run game gave the Ravens their first win of the 2022 season. Picking up the win in the pitcher's circle for the Ravens was Alexis Kern (1-0), who pitched the whole game. Kern pitched seven innings and allowed two runs off of five hits, allowed two walks, and struck out two. Dillinger ended the game 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBI's.

GAME 2: D'YOUVILLE 9, ANDERSON 1

D'Youville came out hot, putting up a four-run top of the first against the Ravens. The Saints got the runs started when Mikaela Milleville singled up the middle to bring in one. Lauren Booth then followed with a single of her own to bring in another runner for the Saints. Then, Carly Milleville hit a triple into left field to bring in Mikaela Milleville and Booth. Anderson was unable to get any action going as the Saints held a 4-0 lead at the end of the first.

The Ravens only run of the game came in the bottom of the third when Marcin scored after a fielder's choice from Brown.

Anderson was unable to get any more offensive action going as D'Youville packed on more runs in the fourth and sixth innings.

In the fourth, the Saints scored two. The first came off a wild pitch, while the second was a result of a throwing error by the Ravens.

Three more runs were scored in the sixth by the Saints to close out the game. After a Carly Milleville triple, the Saints scored two runs. Then a sacrifice fly by Hannah Bardeen brought in the final runner of the game as the Saints took a 9-1 victory. 

Anderson shuffled through three pitchers during the contest, allowing nine runs off of 12 hits. The Ravens gave up four walks while striking out six.

UP NEXT

After ending their first day on their Florida trip with a split, the Ravens look to turn things around as they get a couple days rest before returning back to action on Tuesday for two games. In Game 1, the Ravens will face off against Ramapo College (0-0) at 11AM on field five, followed by Game 2 against the University of New England (0-0) at 3:15PM on field four. Both games are set to take place in Leesburg, Fla. at Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex.