EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Hawk softball team kicked off their run in the Blue Bridge Battle hosted by Kentucky Wesleyan College on Friday, February 24th. Originally scheduled to take place in Owensboro, Kentucky, the event got moved to Evansville, Indiana.
QU started the opening day of the event by defeating Ashland University by the score of 4-1. They were shutout by the Trevecca Nazarene University Trojans in the nightcap by the score of 5-0.
Game 1 vs Ashland
The Hawks got the offense going early in the opening game as Taylor Downen hit an RBI double that scored Mykah Hurley to make it 1-0 QU.
After Jayle Jennings set the Eagles down in order in the bottom of the 1st, QU took advantage of a couple two-out walks. Jennings hit an infield single to load the bases. Then, Ashley Gerber hit a 2 RBI single to the shortstop which scored Casey Brennan and Mykah Hurley to make it 3-0 Hawks.
Taylor Downen rounded out the scoring for QU with a leadoff home run in the top of the 3rd to make it 4-0. Ashland got their lone run in the bottom of the 5th on an error by the Hawk third basemen.
Jennings picked up her first win of the season in the circle, throwing the complete game. She struck out 7 batters, only allowed 4 hits and did not walk a batter.
Game Leaders
Taylor Downen: 2 for 3, 2B, HR, 2 RBIs, run
Mykah Hurley: 0 for 2, 2 BBs, 2 runs
Game 2 vs Trevecca Nazarene
Despite getting runners on base in the first two innings, the Hawks were not able to scratch any runs across the plate. TNU would strike first in the top of the 3rd with three runs on 2 hits.
The Trojans added a run in the top of the 4th on an RBI single to make it 4-0.
After a QU pitching change, Trevecca made it 5-0 on another RBI single in the top of the 7th.
Game Leaders
Taylor Downen: 2 for 3
Isabella Shields: 1 for 3
