Senior second baseman Maggie Mrowka hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning in the opener as the University of Mary Washington softball team split its Saturday doubleheader with Messiah University at the Battleground in the Eagles' home opener. UMW won game one, 3-2, before falling in the nightcap, 3-2.
In game one, both starting pitcher started strong. Eagle hurler Caitlyn Burch was perfect through the first four innings, striking out six, and the Eagle eventually got to the Falcon starter with a run in the fourth. Sophomore Emma Schieda opened the frame with a triple to right field, and scored on a two-out single by senior Caroline Bird.
Messiah gained the lead with two unearned runs in the fifth, but UMW tied the score in the sixth, as Morgan Gilbert opened the frame with a double, and moved to third on a Bridget Laychak single. Bird hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Gilbert.
That set the stage for Mrowka, whose homer to left to open the seventh gave the Eagles the victory. Mrowka homered and singled, and Grace Drury singled twice for the Eagle offense, while Gilbert doubled and Schieda tripled.
Burch gained the win, allowing no earned runs on one hit and one walk in seven innings.
In game two, the Eagles scored a run in the first, as Mrowka singled, stole second, and moved to third on a Schieda single. Gilbert followed with an RBI single to put UMW on the board.
The Falcons took a 3-1 lead in the third, with three unearned runs. The Eagles got one back in the seventh as Schieda singled, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on a single from Gilbert.
Aminah Shakir, Schieda, and Gilbert each ahd two hits in game two, while Bird and Laychak each doubled.
Sophomore Stephanie Folkner took the tough luck loss, allowing four hits and no earned runs in 3.2 innings, while freshman Taylor Hudon allowed no hits and one walk in 3.1 innings of relief, striking out six.
The Eagles will be back in action on Monday in Myrtle Beach, against Grove City College at 10:00 a.m. and Shawnee State College at noon.