GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The University of North Dakota softball team lost a pair of contests in the first day of action at the Furman Classic in Greenville, S.C.
It was a long day for the Fighting Hawks (0-2), who began the day at 10:30 a.m. against the Knights. The green and white then closed out opening day against the host, Furman, with a start around 3:30 p.m.
Bellarmine 3, North Dakota 1
Despite a pair of hits from
Alexys Campos and
Madi Moore, UND could not rally from an early one-run deficit in a 3-1 loss against Bellarmine to open the day on Friday.
Jannay Jones made the start and pitched 6.1 innings. She had a ten-hit, three-run game to give her a record of 0-1 to start the season. She struck out right runners in her first outing this season. Freshman,
Jackie Albrecht pitched the remainder of the game in relief, she allowed no runs during her 0.2 frames of work.
Bellarmine was the first up to bat with the top of the order causing damage instantly with a hit to left field that landed her on second base. The Knights runner advanced to third base on a wild pitch. The next batter singled one to left field to bring the Knights runner in and put them up 1-0 in the first inning. The Fighting Hawks secured the first out against the Knights third batter. The Knights next batter had their second out and Jones struck out the sixth batter to leave two on base.
UND started off to a seemingly strong with a base hit from
Jocelyn Kirk and
Alexys Campos. The Knights secured an out at second as Kirk made the run. North Dakota's third batter struck-out, but Campos managed to steal a base to put her on second with one out left. UND left a player on base as their hitter struck out to head into the second inning down 1-0.
The second inning went scoreless for both teams. Bellarmine would jump out to a 2-0 lead at the top of the third, but North Dakota cut the deficit to one as Campos hit an RBI single to make the score 2-1. The Fighting Hawks tried to rally as they had two more base hits, but their third out came before the runners could be brought in leaving the score with Furman leading 2-1.
The following innings remained scoreless as Jones struck out three of four batters to make it a quick top of the fourth and struck out two more at the top of the sixth.
Bellarmine secured the two-run lead at the top of the seventh with a RBI single from the Knights. Albrecht was brought into relief Jones and help the Hawks earn the final two outs. The Fighting Hawks battled, but they were unable to make the comeback as they fell to the Knights 2-1.
Furman 3, North Dakota 0
Lauren Feld made her first start of the season against the Paladins. She fired of four innings, allowing four hits, three runs, and three strike outs.
Morgan McConnell closed out the game by getting four grounds outs.
UND racked up six hits in the loss to the Paladins, led by a trio from
Alexys Campos and a pair from
Jocelyn Kirk. The middle of the order also provided some offensive sparks for the visitors, with
Callie Honig collecting a hit.
The Hawks threatened in five of the seven innings, placing runners on in each five but one run in the first innings and two runs in the second inning by the along with a strong outing for their pitcher, was the difference.
North Dakota returns to action tomorrow with a pair of contests against Bellarmine at 10:30 a.m. and Maryland Eastern Shore at 1 p.m.
