(Editor’s note: Carroll College media release)
WEST COVINA, Calif. – The Carroll College softball team didn’t practice once outside before Wednesday. They didn’t let the lack of preparation hold them back Friday as they opened the season with a 4-1 win over San Diego Christian and a 2-1 win over previously unbeaten Hope International.
The Carroll pitching was stellar in both games. Game one starter Tess Eaton gave up six hits but consistently worked out of jams to allow just one run on the game. Allison Williams allowed just one hit, a two-strike solo home run.
“Alli and Tess had great games,” head coach Aaron Jackson said. “We needed to get Alli some more runs, but they both battled, and that is what we want to see.”
The Saints opened the day with a win a win over San Diego Christian. Carroll opened the scoring in the first inning and never looked back.
Allison Bayer singled down the left field line, and Ashley Davis hit a deep shot to left center to drive Bayer in for the 1-0 lead.
In the third, the Saints added to their lead when Bayer singled scoring Jaylin Kenney. Anna ApRoberts scored on the throw.
In the fourth San Diego Christian got on the board, but the Saints answered in their half of the inning when Brittany Hogan doubled down the left field line to score Tianna Sell and provide Carroll with a little insurance.
The rest of the way, it was on Eaton, and she delivered. She struck out the side in the fifth, gave up one hit in the sixth before closing the inning with three straight strikeouts. In the seventh, The Hawks put two on, but Eaton forced a pop out to end the game.
Bayer was 2-3 with an RBI and a run to pace the Carroll offense.
The loss dropped SDC to 2-3 on the year.
The second game quickly went from what could have been a high scoring affair into a pitcher’s duel.
Carroll got on the board first when freshman Natalie Gaber singled to left center to score Bayer and ApRoberts.
Williams walked the first batter she faced but then retired the next eight before giving up a solo home run on a two-strike fastball that cleared the wall in dead center. It was the lone hit that she gave up and the Saints held on to the 2-1 lead through the rest of the game.
She struck out seven, walked two and had one other baserunner on an error in the eighth inning. Carroll notched five hits, two by Gaber and two by Brooke Brewer.
“Hope is an excellent team,” Jackson said. “They have been building for three seasons, and they have a lot going right for them. It was a fun battle today. What more could you want? Great dugouts, great fans, it was a lot of fun.”
The Saints play three games Saturday, starting with Williams Jessop at 3 p.m., Vanguard at 5 p.m. and again close out the day against Hope International at 7 p.m.
