Clearwater, Fla. -- The third-ranked Shorter softball team opened the 2016 season in Clearwater, Fla. at the Eckerd College Invitational; turning in a split on the tournament's first day. The Hawks opened the day with a win over Palm Beach Atlantic, 4-3, before falling to Saint Leo 6-2 in the nightcap.
Shorter got on the board in game one in the third inning as
Kameron Carter brought in
Niki Cook on a sacrifice fly to left field. The Sailfish answered in the top of the fourth with a run of their own when Kayla Knight came in on a bases-loaded walk.
The Hawks added to their lead in the fifth with three runs to make it a 4-1 game. With two outs in the inning
Ericka Bynum and
Savannah Thomas turned in back-to-back singles. Bynum then came in to score on an RBI single from
Peyton Barthel, and
Tiffany Holland - who pinch ran for Bynum - scored on a single from
Sierra Cagle.
Palm Beach Atlantic made it a 4-3 game with two runs in the seventh inning.
Hannah Draper earned the win, turning in five innings of no-hit softball; while walking five and striking out three.
Kalei Kimbrell - NCAA DII's leader in saves a year ago - recorded the save, allowing two runs on three hits with a strikeout through two innings of work.
Cook went 3-3 on the day with a walk and a stolen base.
In the second game, Shorter took the lead in the first inning as Cook scored on an error after reaching on a single and stealing second. In the bottom of the inning, though, Saint Leo took the lead with four runs. The Hawks cut the advantage in half in the top of the third on an RBI single from
Kendall Johnson, bringing in Cook. Only to have the Lions extend their lead with two runs in the sixth for the 6-2 final score.
Payton Lippert pitched the complete game for Shorter in her Hawks debut, allowing two earned runs on ten hits with a strikeout. Saint Leo's Stephanie Adkins kept Shorter in check with 11 strikeouts on the day.
Cook went 3-4 for against the Lions with a strikeout and another stolen base. Johnson hit 2-1 on the night with an RBI.
Shorter will be back in action Saturday, February 6, at 11:00am against Lynn, and will close out the day against Barry at 1:30pm.