February 18, 2023

EMPORIA – The Cougar softball team opened their season this weekend as they traveled down to Emporia, Kansas to take on Quincy University and Emporia State.

GAME 1 - QUINCY

USF struggled to get their bats going with until the bottom of the fourth when Kait Van Der Zwaag found herself on first base. Kylie Madrid scored Van Der Zwaag with a double to center field to give the Cougars their first run of the game as well as the season. Reese Holzhueter followed suit with a double of her own to tie the game up 2-2.

Quincy was able to respond with one run in the top of the fifth to go up 3-2, but it wasn't until the bottom of the sixth that the Cougars matched the Eagles at three apiece.

Heading into extra innings and a runner starting on second, Quincy added three runs before Hanna Cress set the Eagles down on a strikeout. Rylie Jones was placed on second for the Cougars before being brought in of a single down the right field line by Madrid.

With eight hits, four runs and two errors the Cougars fell to the Eagles 6-4 while dropping their first game of the season.

GAME 2 - EMPORIA STATE

The Cougars struck first as Madrid hit her second double of the day scoring Jones from second.

Emporia State would then go on to answer with a run of their own in the bottom of the second along with two in the fifth and one in the sixth.

USF forced five hits with one run and one error, but fell to the Hornets 4-1.

UP NEXT

The Cougars will be back in action tomorrow as they take on the University of Missouri – St. Louis as well as Northwest Missouri State. First pitch is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. against UMSL and 4:45 p.m. against NWMS.

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