CLERMONT, Fla. – The University of Sioux Falls softball team opened play at The Spring Games on Sunday with a pair of tightly contested losses, falling 4–3 in eight innings to Wilmington (Del.) before a 2–1 setback against Slippery Rock.
Across the two games, the Cougars jumped out early in game one and held a late lead in game two, but were unable to close out either contest. Sioux Falls combined for nine hits on the day and received strong performances in the circle, but left 12 runners stranded as aggressive baserunning proved to be the difference.
Game One: Wilmington (Del.) 4, Sioux Falls 3 (8 innings)
Sioux Falls struck quickly in the opener, plating three runs in the top of the first inning. Two runs scored on a Wilmington fielding error before Andie Suhai followed with an RBI single to center field, giving USF a 3–0 advantage.
The Wildcats chipped away in the fourth inning on an RBI double and tied the game in the fifth with two runs, including one unearned run following a defensive miscue.
The contest remained deadlocked until Wilmington walked it off in the bottom of the eighth to secure the 4–3 win.
Maddi Duncan started in the circle and struck out eight across 4.2 innings while working around seven walks. Lauryn Foudree tossed the final 2.2 innings, allowing just two hits and one unearned run.
Key Team Stats
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USF scored three runs in the opening inning.
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Sioux Falls was held to one hit over the final seven innings.
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The Cougars drew three walks and stole two bases.
Key Cougars
Game Two: Slippery Rock 2, Sioux Falls 1
The Cougars responded in game two with another competitive showing, taking a 1–0 lead in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly from Kyra Knudtson that scored Charlie Pryor.
Slippery Rock answered in the fifth with an RBI single followed by a sacrifice fly to take a 2–1 lead, which ultimately stood as the final margin.
Sioux Falls finished with five hits in the contest, including a triple from Pryor, but was unable to generate the tying run late.
Lauryn Foudree opened the game with four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out five. Ava Mejia worked the final three innings and was charged with the loss after surrendering two runs in the fifth.
Key Team Stats
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USF was limited to five hits.
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Pryor accounted for two of those five hits.
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Foudree and Mejia combined for seven strikeouts.
Key Cougars
Up Next
The Cougars continue play at The Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. tomorrow, March 2nd, as they take on Saint Anselm at 10am and Seton Hill at 12:15pm.
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