COLUMBUS, Ga. – Flagler College won its first two games of the season, 1-0 over Lynn and 6-3 against Union (Tennessee) University, in the first day of the Southern Softball Showdown on Saturday at the South Commons Complex.
Flagler opened its season with a win for the first time since the 2013 season. Union fell to 0-2 while Lynn was 0-1.
In the opener,
Ally Marcano (1-0) tossed a one-hit shutout and fanned seven to pick up her first win of the year. She retired seven of the first 10 batters she faced.
Flagler broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the seventh.
Tatum Morgan led off the inning with a single to center field.
Kailey Perry came on to pinch run for her. She advanced all the way to third on a single by
Maria Kappos and scored on a passed ball to end the game.
Kappos went 3-for-3 with a double for the Saints.
Kayla Sheffield (0-1) was the hard-luck loser in the circle for Lynn. She tossed six-plus innings and allowed four hits and one unearned run. Sheffield struck out six batters.
Mackenzie Wyatt broke up the no-hit bid with her leadoff single in the fifth.
In the nightcap,
Garland Evans and
Natalie Murphy combined for seven of Flagler's 14 hits off of Union pitching.
Evans collected four singles, scored two runs and drove in two more.
Natalie Murphy hit three singles, scored a run and knocked in another.
The Lady Bulldogs scored a pair of runs in the first inning, only to see the Saints erupt for three in the top of the third. Evans hit a two-run single in the third for Flagler.
Union tied the game in the home half of the third when Gabby Morris socked a leadoff home run.
Morgan Murphy singled home her sister Natalie in the fifth to give the Saints a lead it would not relinquish.
Flagler added a pair of unearned runs in the sixth, on Kappos' single.
Megan Miller collected two singles and scored a pair of runs for the Saints.
Katlyn McCue (1-0) scattered eight hits, allowed three runs, walked three and struck out seven to earn her first win at Flagler.
Morris (0-1) tossed 5 2/3 innings and surrendered 13 hits and allowed four earned runs. She struck out eight batters. Morris went 2-for-3 at the plate as she hit a double, along with her homer, and collected two RBI.
Flagler hosts Palm Beach Atlantic University at 10 a.m. and will follow that with a 12:30 p.m. matchup against Mississippi College.