Softball Wins First Two Of 2014

The #17 ranked Brenau Golden Tigers softball team won their first two games of the Hamp Jordan Classic on Friday to start the 2014 season, capturing an 8-0 win in five innings over NCAA Division II Fayetteville (N.C.) State University and a 5-3 victory over Ohio Valley College.

In game one, senior pitcher Jenny Shepherd (Martinez, Ga.) dominated the Broncos, throwing a no-hitter in her first game of the year, striking out 13 batters and capturing the win.

Sophomore Liz Schneider (Smyrna, Ga.) went 3-3 with a home run and two RBIs, while Katie Cole (Tupelo, Miss.) batted 1-1 with two RBIs and two walks. Sophomore Madison Strickland (Gainesville, Ga.) added an RBI, while freshman Victoria Fontana went 3-3 with one RBI.

Against Ohio Valley College, pitcher Jenny Willis held her own against the Fighting Scots for five innings, but the Golden Tigers found themselves down 3-1 going into the fifth inning. In the bottom of the fifth, Jenny Shepherd hit a two-run homer to tie up the game 3-3. Shepherd then came to the mound to pitch the last two innings in relief, striking out four to keep the game tied going into the bottom of the seventh inning. In the bottom of the seventh, sophomore Caitlyn Glenn (Watkinsville, Ga.) hit a walk-off home run to give the Golden Tigers their second win of the day.

Shepherd went 2-3 with a home run, while also picking up her second win of the afternoon. Strickland added two hits, going 2-3, while Fontana (Jackson, Ga.) added two walks.Freshman Mackenzie Oliver (Martin, Ga.) went 1-3 with a walk.

The Golden Tigers continue day two of the Hamp Jordan Classic on Saturday when they play South Carolina State at 9 am, Bluefield State (W.V.) College at 1pm and Alabama A& M University at 3 pm.