Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MEMPHIS—The Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs claimed a 9-3 win in their season opener before falling 4-1 in the second game Sunday afternoon at Bland Field in a doubleheader that was originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

The Lady Bucs (1-1) struck first with three runs in the third inning in the opener, cashing in on back-to-back one-out singles from Amy Gracia (Fontana, Calif./International Polytechnic HS) and Sammi Canizaro (Nesbit, Miss./Horn Lake HS).  A hit batter, an error, and a groundout pushed three across.  After two singles and a groundout put the Bulldogs (3-1) on the board in the fifth, freshman outfielder Jennifer Gonzalez (Covina, Calif./Charter Oak HS) blasted a solo homer to center field to extend the CBU lead to 4-1.

Cumberland's Emily Nicholson homered in the top of the sixth, but the Lady Bucs put it out of reach in the bottom of the inning with a big two-out rally.  Kim Adams (Southaven, Miss./Southaven HS) started the rally with a leadoff walk.  Taylor Rosa-Ramon (Ewa Beach, Hawaii/James Campbell HS) hit a two-out triple to score Adams, and she came home on a Marie Joiner (San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente HS) single.  A pair of walks and a Rachel Kelly (Olive Branch, Miss./DeSoto Central HS) base hit combined to push three more runs across to give the Lady Bucs a 9-2 edge.  The Bulldogs scored once in the last frame to set the final margin.

Adams allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits and five walks with nine strikeouts.  Gracia and fellow freshman Olivia Kegler (Ballwin, Mo./Cor Jesu Academy) each collected two hits in their college debut.  Rosa-Ramon scored twice, and Gonzalez drove in two runs.

The Bulldogs took control quickly in the nightcap.  Megan Lavery led off with a walk, and she scored on a Sydney Broderick single.  Nicholson followed with a two-run homer to center, giving Cumberland's Courtney Maynard all the run support she would need.

The Lady Bucs' lone run came in the second inning as Kelly drew a walk and came home on an error.  The Bulldogs set the final margin with a fifth-inning RBI double by Allison Blackwood.  The game was called due to darkness in the top of the seventh inning.

The Lady Bucs managed just four hits against Maynard, who struck out five against one walk.  Amanda Wade (Water Valley, Ky./Graves County HS) excelled in her college debut, allowing one unearned run on six hits in five innings.

The Lady Bucs return to action Tuesday afternoon at 1 p.m. when they host Union for a doubleheader.