DECATUR, Ga.—Brenau's big seventh inning broke open a tie game to spur them to a 10-4 win over Agnes Scott in game one of a season-opening doubleheader at Oakhurst Park. The Golden Tigers cruised in the second game 13-3 to complete the sweep of the Scotties.
Brenau improves to 3-1 on the season overall, while Agnes Scott falls to 0-2.
Game One
Brenau was able to tag first-year starter Kayla Spinks (Social Circle, Ga.) for four runs over the first three innings of action before the Agnes Scott starter was able to settle into a groove. Shelton Kendrix (Jefferson, Ga.) was able to bust open the scoring in the first inning with a double over the glove at third to plate two easily. Spinks was able to eliminate further damage in the first, however.
After the Golden Tigers added one run in each of the second and third innings, Agnes Scott finally made its move when Caitlin Weaver (Jacksonville, Fla.) tucked a ball inside the third base line to score Jessica Costero (Miami, Fla.) from third base to make it a 4-1 game.
First-year Jani Howington (Lawrenceville, Ga.) halved the deficit to start the fourth inning with a moonshot over the scoreboard in centerfield.
The 4-2 game remained until the bottom of the fifth when the top of the Scottie order put together a little two-out rally. After Jessica Rathje (Glencoe, Ala.) sent the first two Scotties packing with swinging strikeouts, Tiara White (Sinton, Texas) and Weaver were able to reach on a single and walk respectively. First-year Sarah Fox (Cartersville, Ga.) made Rathje pay with a triple to the wall in center to knot the game at four.
Both teams went scoreless in the sixth before the bottom fell out on the Scotties. A one-out error kickstarted a six-run rally for the Golden Tigers to make it a 10-4 game entering the final half frame. The Scotties compounded mistakes a handful of times in the frame to make it an uphill battle. Steffanie Redmon (Lula, Ga.), Maygan Loparo (Sugar Hill, Ga.) and Alyssa Maisonet (Milner, Ga.) all contributed RBI singles in the inning.
The Scotties were unable to get anything started in the bottom half as the loss was secured.
Game Two
The Golden Tigers and Scotties each used defensive mistakes to plate two runs in the first inning, but it was the visitors who saw the running score continue throughout. By the end of the third, Brenau had pushed the lead to 12-3 leaving the Scotties to scramble for runs in the late going.
Agnes Scott was unable to recover from six errors in the field as the Golden Tigers finished with 13 runs on just 11 hits.
Things to Know
- Rathje struck out 16 Scotties in game one just two days after striking out 17 batters in Brenau's season opener against Converse.
- Brenau leadoff hitter Faith Grooms (Commerce, Ga.) had a day high four hits in seven at-bats with four RBI. Tabitha Morrison (Dawsonville, Ga.) also finished with four knocks on the back side of the lineup.
- Howington and Fox provided the most offense for the Scotties with three hits apiece. Howington's launch in game one was the first of her career. Both players finished with two RBI for the day.
- Only 11 of Brenau's 23 runs on the day were earned.
What's Next
Agnes Scott hosts a second consecutive NAIA foe Point University next Friday, Feb. 15 starting at 3 p.m.