CLERMONT, Fla. -- Houghton softball has escaped the cold of the north for a week to start their 2019 campaign in Florida. Unfortunately, the change in climate didn't produce any wins on Day 1 as the Highlanders dropped a 2-1 extra inning decision to Dominican (Ill.) and closed the day with a 9-4 loss to St. Vincent.
Game 1
Dominican 2, Houghton 1 (8 innings)
Game 1 was a pitcher's battle as neither team produced much offensively.
Kaylee Jentsch spread five hits over eight innings on the mound. The Highlander bats also produced five hits, but neither team could put any runners across the plate through seven innings. Houghton got a spark in the top of the eighth, thanks to the international tie breaker.
Katie Jones was placed on second base and advanced to third on a sac bunt by
Lauren Couturier. After a ground out and a hit batter,
Taylor Sile drove in Jones with a hard grounder to third. Jentsch struck out to end the inning, stranding two runners.
Dominican also took advantage of the tie breaker. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runner. Then a walk, stolen base and a double was enough to put runs across the plate and secure the 2-1 win.
Game 1 Notes
Game 2
St. Vincent 9, Houghton 4
Game 2 saw more hits and more scoring, but the Highlanders came up short, 9-4. The Bearcats got out to an early lead with a two-run homer in the top of the first, and then added two more in the top of the third to take a 4-0 lead.
However, Houghton put four across in the bottom of the third to even the score at 4-4.
Hannah Haskell reached on an error,
Barbara Richert singled, and
Taylor Sile's hard hit forced an error by the short stop to load the bases with just one out.
Caitlyn Cybart took advantage and brought Haskell home with a single.
Kaylee Jentsch quickly followed with a double that cleared the bases.
The Bearcats added a run in the top of the fourth, then scored two more in both the top of the fifth and top of the seventh to close the scoring.
Game 2 Notes
- The Highlanders had eight hits in the contest
- Haskell and Richert led the Highlanders with two hits apiece
- Jentsch, Couturier, Sile, and Caitlyn Cybart had one hit each
Coach's Corner
For our first games of the year I was happy with our intensity in game one. We fought the whole game but were just not able to execute on a few keys opportunities early in the game. Kaylee had a great outing for us on the mound and kept us in the game. Our second game we had more offensive production but we weren't able to sustain it the entire game along with some defensive misplays. St. Vincent got the better of us. Overall, we took many positives away from today and we are excited to take those into our games tomorrow. -- Head Coach
Katie Sinclair
Next Game
Houghton is back in action for a pair of contests Tuesday in Clermont. They battle Trine at 1:30 p.m. before closing the day with a 3;45 contest against Rosemont.
