Shorter softball opened the 2017 season Saturday, taking on two teams from the Peach Belt Conference, in the first day of the South Softball Showdown. The Lady Hawks opened the day with a 5-4, extra inning setback; before picking things up in the second game of the day as they topped Flagler 14-7.

The Lady Hawks got on the board first in game one as Kameron Carter sent her first hit of the season over the left field wall to make it a 1-0 game in favor of Shorter in the second inning. Only to have Montevallo answer in their half of the frame with an RBI single to tie the game.

In the fourth, though, Shorter once again went ahead; this time as Carter came in to score on an RBI double from Dani Lukas. But, the Falcons answered one inning later to tie the game at two apiece on a solo homerun from Mariel Bertossi.

The Lady Hawks had chances in the in the sixth and seventh, leaving runs in scoring position in bot innings, but with the game still tied at two after seven, they headed into extra innings. 

In the eighth, Shorter rallied for two runs to take a 4-2 lead. Lukas singled to start things off and moved to second on a single from Ashley Langel, before both moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt from Taylor Ann Oda for the first out the inning. Maddie Hunt then grounded out to second, bringing in Lukas to give the Lady Hawks the lead 3-2. The next batter, Tiffany Holland, reached on an error; which brought in Langel for the 4-2 score.

Montevallo mounted a comeback in the bottom of the inning to secure the win, as three runs scored on single, a fly out and an error, respectively; for the 5-4 final score.
Carter and Lukas each finished the game with two hits apiece, while Peyton Barthel, Holland, Hunt and Langel each added one.

Payton Lippert took the loss; allowing all five runs – four earned – on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts through 7.1 innings of work.

In game two, the Lady Hawks once again started the scoring with a run in the top of the first as Holland scored on a ground out from Ericka Bynum. But, Flagler answered in the bottom of the inning to tie the game and then added four in the second to take a 5-1 lead.

Shorter answered in the third, with a six run inning, to regain the lead and make it a 7-5 game. Carson Carriker got things going with an RBI double, and came in to score on a double from Bynum. Lukas reached on a fielder's choice later in the inning to plate Carter; who'd reached on a single two batters before. The Lady Hawks then took advantage of three Flagler errors to tack on the final three runs of the inning.

The Lady Hawks weren't done there, as they added a run in the fourth on an RBI single from Barthel. Before adding three in the fifth for the 14-5 score. Mackenzie Conley homered in the bottom of the seventh for the Saints for the 14-7 final score.

Bynum went 3-4 at the plate with a walk, two doubles and four RBI in the game. While, Holland, Carriker, and Carter each finished with two hits apiece.

Kalei Clark earned her first win of the season allowing two runs on five hits with a walk and strikeout through 5.1 innings of relief work.

The Lady Hawks will be back in action Sunday at 9:00am and 2:00pm against Lynn and Columbus State, respectively.