Story written and posted by Cameron Way, Fisher College Sports Information Intern
KISSIMMEE, FLA. – The Fisher College Softball team opened their 2020 season this afternoon with a pair of losses at THE Spring Games down in Central Florida. The Falcons fell in the opener to Florida National, 16-0, before finishing the afternoon with a 20-1 setback to Lindenwood-Belleville.
Game One: Florida National 16, Fisher College 0 (Final/5 inn.)
Freshman Yanesza Rowe (Lowell, Mass.) went 1-for-3 in the season opener as the Fisher Softball team dropped the season opener to Florida National, 16-0. Rowe's single in the top of the first inning was the first base hit for the Falcons in 2020.
Fellow freshman Haley Tilberry (Moosic, Pa.) finished her first collegiate contest going 1-for-3 and senior Corrie Edstrom (Shrewsbury, Mass.) went 1-for-2 in the opener. Edstrom also received the loss inside the circle for Fisher as she surrendered 16 runs (three earned) on 14 hits over four innings pitched.
Florida National junior Gabryella Hay (Academy, Texas) earned the win as she allowed just three hits over five innings of work while striking out nine. At the plate, Hay was the catalyst as she finished 3-for-3 with two doubles and five RBI. Classmate Julia Frank (East Tawas, Mich.) also went 3-for-3 with a RBI and three runs scored while junior Nini Underwood (Orlando, Fla.) finished her afternoon with a 2-for-4, 4 RBI showing at the dish. Freshman Madison Bradshaw (Davie, Fla.) also knocked in three RBI on her 2-for-4 performance at the plate in the win.
Game Two: Lindenwood University-Belleville 20, Fisher College 1 (Final/5 inn.)
The Falcons could not out muscle Lindenwood-Belleville in the second game of the day as they eventually fell 20-1.
Fisher scored their first run of the season in the first inning. With two-out, senior Vivan Lara (Norwalk, Calif.) singled and then got into scoring position with a swipe of second base. Edstrom then proceeded with a single, prompting Lara to round third and give the Falcons an early 1-0 lead.
That lead would be short lived as the Lynx responded with two runs in the second and put the game out of reach with an eleven run third inning.
Fisher managed just those two hits in the contest. Lara wrapped up her day going 1-for-2 with a run scored and Edstrom was 1-for-2 with a RBI. Tilberry started the game inside the circle as was given the loss after allowing 20 runs (19 earned) on 21 hits over her five innings of work.
Lindenwood-Belleville was led by the offensive prowess of senior Tiffany Patterson (Corona, Calif.), who finished the game going 4-for-5 with four RBI. Sophomore Shelby Sievers (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) went 2-for-2 with four runs scored, two RBI and a home run. Also recording a perfect night at the plate was junior Madison Willman (Meppen, Ill.), who ended her night going 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored in the win. Sievers also earned the win in the circle as she spun five innings of two-hit ball, allowing one run and striking out seven.
Fisher will be right back out on the field tomorrow as they get set to battle the University of Michigan-Dearborn at and Hannibal-La Grange University. First pitch against Michigan-Dearborn is scheduled for 10:15 AM.