ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - The Christian Brothers University softball team used complete games from pitchers
Mackenzie Puckett and
Kelsey Wurm, and used a combined 13 runs to sweep day one at the HSU/OBU Tournament. The Lady Bucs defeated host Henderson State 9-3 in the opener, and finished the day with a 4-3 comeback victory over Midwestern State.
GAME ONE: CBU 9 (2-7) HSU 3 (0-11)
GAME CHANGER:
CBU scored six runs over the first three innings.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
CBU finished with a 10-9 advantage in hits.
CBU had two doubles and a home run.
Kendall Westbrooks finished 3-for-4 with a double and two runs.
Elaina McGill and
Reese Earleywine drove in two runs apiece. Earleywine had an RBI single and a solo home run.
Cara Alexander also had a double.
Starting pitcher
Mackenzie Puckett pitched a complete game, allowing two earned runs on nine hits.
KEY PLAYS:
CBU jumped ahead 3-0 in the top of the first, using a pair of walks with the bases loaded and an RBI single.
In the second, the two RBI single from McGill gave the Lady Bucs a 5-0 lead.
The solo shot Earleywine gave CBU a 7-1 lead going into the bottom of the fifth.
CBU added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh.
HSU scored in the bottom of the seventh to finish the scoring.
NOTEABLES:
The home run for Earleywine is the first of her career.
Westbrooks now has at least three hits in three games this season.
GAME TWO: CBU 4 (3-7) Midwestern State 3 (1-6)
GAME CHANGER:
Trailing 3-1 going into the top of the sixth inning, the Lady Bucs scored three runs to earn the comeback win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
Midwestern State finished with a 7-4 advantage in hits.
CBU had seven extra base hits, including four doubles and three triples.
Elaina McGill went 1-for-3 with a pair of RBis.
Caroline Gross was 1-for-1 with a solo home run.
Kendall Westbrooks finished 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Starting pitcher
Kelsey Wurm allowed three runs, on seven hits, with four strikeouts.
KEY PLAYS:
CBU opened the scoring in the first on an RBI single by Westbrooks.
MSU took a 2-1 lead in the fourth.
After the Mustangs added to their lead in the fifth, Gross started the top fo the sixth with a solo home run.
With the bases loaded, McGill drove in a pair of runs with a single to left field.
The Mustangs had the winning runs on in the seventh, but Wurm retired back-to-back hitters to end the threat.
Before the home run by Gross, MSU starter Malea Rodriguez had retired 13 straight batters.
NOTEABLES:
McGill leads CBU with 14 RBIs.
The seven inning complete game for Wurm is the first of her career.
Gross smacked her third career home run.
UP NEXT:
The Lady Bucs are scheduled to return to action on Sunday, Feb. 20 when they face No. 20 Texas A&M Kingsville and host Ouachita Baptist. First pitch is scheduled for 10 AM.
