Richardson, Texas - The Centenary Ladies softball team swept a doubleheader from the UT Dallas Comets to open their 2021 regular season on Saturday in Richardson, Texas.
The Ladies (2-0) won game one by a score of 2-0 and then took the second game, 2-1, as Centenary has started 2-0 for the first time since 2015. UT Dallas fell to 0-2 on the season.
Game 1 recap:
Centenary took game one by a score of 2-0 as freshman pitcher Hailee Leger (Belle Chasse, La.) tossed a complete-game shutout for her first career win in the circle. Leger was superb as she struck out seven, did not walk a batter, and allowed seven hits. She threw 98 pitches, 73 for strikes.
Devyn Yanello took the loss for the Comets as she allowed two runs, both earned, and three hits in five innings of work. She stuck out a pair and did not walk a batter. Mikayla Kanetsky pitched the final two innings and was perfect.
The Ladies got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third inning as junior shortstop Jaymee Wilkinson (Brazoria, Texas) doubled down the left field line to open the inning. Junior designated player Kirstyn Gomez (Deer Park, Texas) then grounded out to first, advancing Wilkinson to third. Freshman right fielder Jessi Daigle (Church Point, La.) then delivered a sacrifice fly to center scoring Wilkinson for her first career RBI to give the Ladies a 1-0 lead.
The Comets had a chance to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, putting runners and second and third with two outs, but Leger induced an inning-ending ground out to maintain the Ladies' lead. Centenary added to its lead in the top of the fifth as senior first baseman Brittney Broussard (Rayne, La.) single up the middle to open the inning and scored on a two-out infield single by Gomez.
UT Dallas did not go away quietly though, putting the tying runs at first and second with one out. Right fielder Ashley Ambrosy then came up and grounded out to third, advancing the runners to second and third with two outs. Leger then struck out left fielder Alexia Mullen swinging to end the game, giving the Ladies a thrilling season-opening victory. The Comets left eight on base, including three in the final two frames.
Game 2 recap:
The Comets got on the board first in game two as second baseman Charlie Burns singled in Ambrosy in the bottom of the first inning for a 1-0 lead. The Ladies wasted no time in answering the UT Dallas run as sophomore left fielder Kaylea Patridge (Las Vegas, Nev.) drove home Daigle to tie the game. Wilkinson flew out to begin the inning but Gomez singled to right field on a full-count pitch. Daigle followed with a fielder's choice, erasing Gomez, but then Daigle proceeded to steal second base and scored on Patridge's clutch two-out hit.
Sophomore Britlyn Garrett (Stonewall, La.) then hit Comets starter Delana Meyer's first pitch of the top of the fourth inning over the wall in left center for a 2-1 Centenary lead. The go-ahead home run proved to be the winning run and was also Garrett's first-career hit.
Junior Ashley Hunter (Benton, La.) got the start for the Ladies in the circle and picked up the win as she went four innings and allowed just one run on five hits with no walks and no strikeouts. She threw 43 pitches, 31 for strikes. Leger relieved Hunter and picked up the save as she pitched the final three innings and allowed just one hit with one strikeout. Leger finished the day allowing just eight eights along with eight strikeouts and did not walk a batter in 10 innings of work in her collegiate debut.
Meyer (0-1) took the loss for the Comets in game two as she pitched three innings and allowed two runs, both earned, and four hits with two walks and two strikeouts and the Garrett home run. Kanetsky, who pitched in relief in game one, came on for Meyer and went the final four innings and allowed just one hit and had one strikeout. The Comets had six hits in game two while the Ladies collected five. UT-Dallas committed one error while centenary was spotless in the field. Each had four left on base.
"Today's performance was a total team effort, said head coach Mark Suire. "Every player was able to contribute in some capacity and there was constant energy in the dugout."
"With all of the uncertainty that these student-athletes have endured over the past year, it was exciting to see the players from both teams compete and make the most of their opportunity to get back on the field."
The Ladies return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 16 with a non-conference doubleheader versus the East Texas Baptist Tigers in Marshall, Texas. The games are set for 4 and 6 p.m. Centenary's home opener will be Saturday, Feb. 27 versus Millsaps with a doubleheader set for 2 and 4 p.m. The Ladies open SCAC play at home versus Austin College March 6-7.
The Ladies' complete 2021 schedule can be found here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/sball/2020-21/schedule
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