A thrilling come-from-behind victory capped off a two win first day of the 2013 season, as the Truman softball team logged a 7-1 win against Wayne (Mich.) State and a 7-6 win against Ohio Dominican at the Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout.
In the opener, the Bulldogs wasted no time putting runs on the board as Kristin Grossman plated two with an RBI double to left center in the top of the first against WSU. Neither team scored until the fifth, when Liz Leath knocked a single to right to score Laura Miller before Grossman belted another two-RBI double, this time bringing home Leath and Kelsey Bollman for a 5-0 Truman lead.
Miller would add a two-run single of her own in the 6th, bringing the Bulldog lead to 7-0 before the Warriors got one on the board in the home half of the sixth for the final tally.
Meanwhile, in her first start as a Bulldog, Hannah Washburn dealt a five-inning performance, surrendering just four infield hits and striking out four.
Kirsten Krause came on in relief for the final two innings to close out the win.
Then, a wild game ensued in the nightcap as the Bulldogs fell behind 3-0 in the third before breaking out the bats in their half of the fourth.
A Cate Simon RBI double got Truman on the board before Corey Niblett reached on an infield single to first that plated Whitney Richardson.
Two batters later, Ally McReynolds singled and brought home two, as Niblett followed Simon to the plate after a Panther error.
Following a walk to Miller, Bollman then delivered a base knock back up the middle, scoring McReynolds and giving the ’Dogs a 5-3 lead.
ODU came right back in the top of the fifth, scoring three to regain a 6-5 edge, which it would hold on to until the bottom of the seventh in Truman’s last at bat. Bollman struck out to start the inning, but reached on a passed ball.
After two fly outs, Richardson delivered a game-tying double to left, scoring Bollman for a 6-6 tie. Then, a pinch-runner substitution, Simon sent the ’Dogs to 2-0 with a walk-off single to center, plating Andrea Klipsch as the winning run at 7-6.
Kindra Henze made her first start as a Bulldog and lasted 2.1 innings, before Krause tossed two innings of middle inning relief.
Washburn earned her second win of the day, throwing the final 2.2 innings and surrendering just one hit and striking out five.
Richardson, Simon and Niblett all tallied two-hit games in the finale.
The Bulldogs continue play at the three-day UAH Chlilout on Saturday, taking on future GLVC-foes Quincy (Ill.) and Maryville (Mo.) at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm.
Courtesy Truman State University
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