Softball Splits 2021 Opener with Faulkner University

Montgomery, Alabama- The Brenau softball team opened the 2021 season with a split against Faulkner University (Ala.) on Saturday in non-conference play.

In the opening game, the Golden Tigers pounded out 12 hits and starting pitcher senior Chloe Fambrough threw a shutout to help the team win 10-0 over the host Eagles. .

The game stayed even at 0-0 until the top of the third when Faulkner starter Katelynn Inness walked freshman Abigail Brown with the bases loaded to score Maygan Loparo to make the score 1-0. Later in the inning,senior Karly Smith doubled to left field to score Brown and fellow senior Brooke Wakenigg to increase the score to 3-0.

In the top of the fifth, Brenau added a run as senior Faith Grooms doubled down the left field line to score Smith to make the score 4-0.

The Golden Tigers piled on the scoring in the top of the sixth inning as Brown flew out to deep left field to score Loparo to make the score 5-0 and then junior Kasey Blair singled to score freshman Hannah Patridge to increase the lead to 6-0. In the next at bat, Smith then singled home Wakenigg to increase the Brenau advantage to 7-0. WIth the bases loaded, Grooms again hit her second double of the game to clear the bases for a 10-0 advantage.

Fambrough shut down the Eagles' bats with a stellar six inning performance as the junior allowed only four hits with no runs to capture her first win of the season.

Grooms led the offense with a 2-4 performance with four RBIs, while Smith went 2-3 with three RBIs. Brown added two RBIs and Blair added a hit and an RBI.

In game two, Faulkner capitalized on three Brenau fielding errors to cruise to an 8-2 win.

After taking an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Eagles added to the lead with four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 5-1 lead. In the top of the fourth, the Golden Tigers answered as sophomore Morgan Tyler drove in Smith to narrow the gap to 5-2.

However, Faulkner answered with two more runs in both the bottom of the fourth and an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the game 8-2.

Senior Cameron Dillard allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings to take the loss for the Golden Tigers. Junior Brooke Kibbe also allowed one run in one inning of relief.

Junior Stefanie Redmon had two hits, while Tyler and Loparo added an RBI each in the loss.

Brenau (1-1 overall, 0-0 AAC) next travels to face Covenant (Tenn.) College (2-8 overall) on Thursday for a 1 pm doubleheader.