VIERA, Fla. - In their season opener, Goshen softball lost to Oakland City on the first day of the Space Coast Spring Games. The Mighty Oaks won 5-3 before the game was shortened due to rain, with the second game to be played on Tuesday.
Goshen's
Alyssa McDonald, who hadn't played a regulation game in 675 days and had missed 60 games in a row, returned with a strong performance. Not only did she go 2-2, but she tied the school triples record of nine previously held solely by Ri Koteles.
Goshen and Oakland City were the only teams playing in the first day of the tournament. OCU scored twice in the top of the first but Goshen put one on the board in the bottom half when
Kaylee Kates slid into home after a wild pitch. The Mighty Oaks added another in the second to go up 3-1. GC had the bases loaded with just one out in the third, but two straight 1-2-3 strikeouts ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth,
Kaylee Kates singled down the left field line, and her hit was followed by McDonald's school record tying triple that scored Kates.
Shea VanScoter was up next in the three-spot, and her single to left scored McDonald and tied the game. VanScoter was tagged out while trying to get to second.
Oakland City had a two-RBI triple in the sixth that gave them a 5-3 lead. Goshen starter
Esme Pico was pulled, allowing five earned runs in 5.1 innings on six hits. She had seven strikeouts but seven walks as well. Freshman
Tatem Adams of Greenfield, Indiana, came in to get the next two outs, not allowing any runs or hits.
With one out in the top of the seventh, the game was called due to heavier rain with the umpires and head coaches agreeing to the score after six innings, resulting in a 5-3 OCU win.
Five of Goshen's six hits came from the top third of the batting order, as well as three of the team's four walks, all three runs and both RBIs. Kates went 2-2 with two singles, two runs and a walk. McDonald was 2-2 with a single, a triple, an RBI and a run. VanScoter had a single, a walk and an RBI.
Kamille Badibanga hit a double and added a walk and a stolen base.
On Tuesday, Goshen will make up the second game of Monday's doubleheader by playing a doubleheader against Oakland City starting at 12:15 pm. Later that evening, the Leafs will take on the University of Fort Lauderdale at 7:00 pm to complete an eventful day. They will be off on Wednesday before resuming games on Thursday.
