MONTGOMERY, Alabama-The Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs opened their GSC schedule with a pair of close losses to nationally-ranked opponents Saturday in the GSC Opening Weekend Festival, losing 5-3 to No. 18 Valdosta State and 6-4 to No. 11 Lee.
No. 18 Valdosta State 5, CBU 3
WHAT HAPPENED:
The Lady Bucs took advantage of three errors by No. 18 Valdosta State to take a 3-2 lead into the seventh, but the Blazers scored three in the top of the seventh to rally for a 5-3 win.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Blazers (11-2, 1-0 GSC) opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first on a first and third double-steal after a pair of walks.
• CBU (3-7, 0-2) drew even in the bottom of the inning.
Holly Oyhenart (Menifee, Calif./Paloma Valley HS) led off with a single and stole second, scoring when
Olivia Parsels (Germantown, Tenn./St. Benedict HS) reached on a two-out two-base error.
• The Lady Bucs regained the lead in the bottom of the second.
Abby Ferreira (Santa Clarita, Calif./Saugus HS) singled with one out. She stole second and moved to third when the throw went wild into center, scoring when
Jacqueline Conlan (Collierville, Tenn./Collierville HS) hit a sacrifice fly.
• VSU tied the game back up in the top of the fourth with a run on a triple and a single.
• CBU regained the lead in the bottom of the inning. Parsels led off with a single and moved to second on an error, scoring when Ferreira singled up the middle with two out.
• The lead lasted into the top of the seventh, when VSU scored three runs on two singles, a walk and a double.
• The Lady Bucs threatened again in the bottom of the inning as Oyhenart and
Maddi Welch (Munford, Tenn./Munford HS) singled with two out, but a flyout ended the game.
KEY STATS:
• Ferreira went 2-for-3 with a run, a stolen base and one RBI.
• Oyhenart was 2-for-4 with a run and a stolen base.
• Parsels went 2-for-3 with a run.
• Welch was 2-for-4.
No. 11 Lee 6, CBU 4
WHAT HAPPENED:
The Lady Flames scored in each of the first four innings to claim a 6-4 win over the Lady Bucs.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• CBU opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first. Back-to-back one-out walks to Welch and
Amber Johnson (Somerville, Tenn./Fayette Academy) started the rally, and Welch scored on a two-out single by
Savannah Rosevear-Goetsch (Arrington, Tenn./Fred J. Page HS).
• The Lady Flames (7-4, 2-0) answered with two in the bottom of the inning on a double and two singles.
• Lee added a run to its lead in the second on a pair of singles.
• The Lady Bucs tied the game back up in the top of the third. Welch led off with a walk and moved to second on a Johnson single. After Parsels sacrificed them to second and third, Ferreira drove both in with a double to center.
• The Lady Flames answered with a run in the bottom of the frame on a single and a double.
• CBU again tied the game in the top of the fourth. Kaitlyn Cherry worked a one-out walk, and singles by Oyhenart and Welch loaded the bases for Johnson, who scored Cherry with a single to center.
• Lee set the final margin with two runs in the bottom of the inning on three singles.
KEY STATS:
• Johnson went 2-for-3 with a run and one RBI.
• Ferreira was 1-for-2 with a stolen base, three walks and two RBI.
• Welch went 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs.
• Cherry was 0-for-2 but drew two walks with a run and a stolen base.
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Lady Bucs close out the GSC Opening Weekend Festival Sunday at noon when they face Shorter. Due to the forecast of rain, Wednesday's scheduled doubleheader against LeMoyne-Owen has been postponed to March 21 at 1 p.m. The Lady Bucs' home opener is now set for Wednesday, Feb. 28, when they host Lane for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
