CLERMONT, F.L.-  The Houghton Softball team finished day one of their Florida trip with a record of 1-1. In the first game, the Highlanders were toppled by Alverno College, 7-6 in extra innings, but bounced back in the second game, defeating Johnson State 9-0 in five innings in Clermont, Florida on Monday.

GAME 1: Houghton softball opened its season with an exciting nine-inning 7-6 loss against Alverno in the first game of their Florida trip on Monday.
 
Alverno was first to get on the board in the bottom of the first and bottom of the third with two RBIs by Ashlie Rossi. After three empty innings, the Highlanders responded in the top of the fourth inning. Taylor Sile got her first homer of the season advancing Lauren Couturier across the plate, evening out the score, 2-2.
 
It was not until the top of the six where Houghton was able to take the lead for the first time, 4-3. Sile led-off with a double to the left-center and scored two batters later on a Taylor Dillenbeck RBI.
 
To get extra innings, the Inferno tied the game at the bottom of the seventh. The game went a total of nine innings as the two teams battled it out for two more innings. An RBI single by Katie Jones gave the Highlanders a small light at the end of the tunnel, but that was short lived as Alverno came up with two RBIs in the bottom of the ninth.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Score: Houghton – 6 | Alverno - 7
Records: Houghton – 0-1 | Alverno – 2-3
Venue: Clermont, F.L. Legends Way 3 | Attendance: 89
 
NOTABLE STATS
>> For the Highlanders Kaylee Jentsch started off the game as the pitcher until the bottom of the fifth when Sile stepped in to finish the game.
 
>> Ashlie Rossi pitched for the Inferno. Rossi ended the game 1-1, while Sile ended 0-1.
 
>> Sile led the Highlanders with one home run, two hits, two RBIs, and two runs in four ABs.
 
 
GAME 2: A quick turnaround for the Highlanders as they defeated Johnson State, 9-0, in five innings.
 
First to get on the board, the Highlanders were able to score four runs out of four hits and Johnson State's five errors. Taylor Sile (1), Mariah Rogers (1), and Taylor Dillenbeck (2) each recorded an RBI for an early 4-0 lead.
 
Heading into the top of the second, Johnson State received three straight outs without getting on base. The Highlanders' lead grew with five more runs on five hits and six errors. After a single and advancing to third on an error, McKenzie Marti scored on a passed ball. Three more Highlander RBIs resulted in a 9-0 led before the third out.
 
The Highlanders maintained their lead for three more innings before the game was called in the fifth inning.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Score: Houghton - 9 | Johnson State - 0
Records: Houghton- 1-1 | Johnson State- 0-2
Venue: Clermont, F.L. Legends Way 3 | Attendance: 44
 
NOTABLE STATS
>> Highlanders' Tanya Hatton (1-0) pitched and won the game against Johnson State pitcher Kaitlynn Woodward (0-3). Hatton went four innings, allowing three hits and striking out five.
 
>> Dillenbeck led the Highlander in RBIs with four on the night followed by Sile and Rogers who each drove in two.
 
>> Sile, Rogers and Caitlyn Cybart led the Highlanders with three hits and two runs apiece.

COACH'S CORNER
"We had a good day today. For our first game of the season, I was really proud of how hard we battled against Alverno. It was a great competitive game that we can pull a lot of positives from."

"I was happy with how well we bounced back in game 2 and came out with the same passion and fire that we had the first game. I saw a lot of confidence and consistency from our pitching staff today too, so I'm looking forward to our games tomorrow and the rest of the week!" - Coach Katie Sinclair

Up Next:
Highlanders are back in action on Tuesday, February 27 at 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM in Clermont, Fl.