GAME ONE  |  GAME TWO

The University of Mary Washington softball team opened the 2012 season by splitting its doubleheader with 13th ranked Messiah College, falling in extra innings in the opener, 7-6, before topping the Falcons, 6-1, in the nightcap.

In the opener, UMW trailed, 3-0, in the third, but posted runs in the third, fourth, and fifth to tie the score. After Messiah scored three times in the sixth, the Eagles answered with three in the seventh to again tie the score. Messiah scored in the eighth to take the 7-6 win. In that game, sophomore shortstop Bireet Chitty led the way, going 4-5 with a run scored and RBI. Brandee Adams and Amanda Adams each ahd two hits, and Danielle Cunetta went 1-2 with a big two-run hit in the seventh. Cunetta took the tough-luck loss, allowing no earned runs in two innings on three hits.


Game two saw freshman Hannah Otterman pitch seven strong innings, allowing eight hits but just one run in a 6-1 Eagle victory. Otterman walked none and struck out four. Offensively, Brandee Adams went 3-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Amanda Adams went 3-3 with two RBI. Kerry Busby and Michelle Durnavich each had two hits for the Eagles.


Mary Washington will be back in action next Saturday when they host McDaniel College for a 12:30 p.m. doubleheader.