MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Albright college softball team (2-0) got off to a roaring start in 2024 winning both games of their season opening double header this afternoon. Albright beat Saint Joseph's of Long Island 13-3 in game one and turned around to beat Fransiscan 9-1 in game two.


 GAME 1: W 9-1

Kathryn Baptiste started the season as well as anyone could this morning in Myrtle Beach. Baptiste started today's game as the Lions starting pitcher tossing five innings of dominant ball. Baptiste only allowed one earned run while striking out six batters picking up the win. At the plate, Baptiste went 2-4 with a double, three runs scored and a stolen base.

Juliette Licata was inserted into the clean up spot in the Lions lineup and proceeded to go 3-4 at the plate. The first-year lion collected two doubles and three RBIs helping the Lions to their season opening win. All the hits today for Licata were the first of her Albright career.

Franciscan scored the first run of the game but that was the only run the Barons would see come across the plate for the rest of the game.

The Barons lead was short lived as the Lions scored four runs in the home half of the first inning. Jordan Melson had the big hit of the first inning doubling to center field which scored Veronica Heckman and Jadelyn Van Winkle. After the first inning the Lions led 4-1.

Albright had it working up and down the lineup as the Lions ended the game in the fifth inning due to the run rule of being up at least eight runs after five innings of play.

In the fifth inning, Albright recorded RBIs on three doubles from Monica Hernandez, Baptiste and Licata. Licata dealt the final blow as Licata's double in the fifth brought home Slaydon Fisher and Baptiste to give the Lions a 9-1 win in the opening game of the season.

Melson finished 2-3 at the plate with two RBIs while Hernandez finished 2-3 at the plate with two runs scored an RBI.  

Rounding out the hits for the Lions in game one was Madison Lasko, Fisher and Van Winkle. In addition to the hits, all three Lions plated a run for Albright.

GAME 2: W 13-3

Monica Hernandez introduced herself to the Lions in style going 3-5 in her first game played as an Albright Lion. Hernandez tallied five RBIs to go along with two runs scored batting leadoff for the Lions.

A trio of Lions collected two hits in game one in the forms of Marissa Rovenstine, Emma Breschard and Madison Lasko. Lasko led with two RBIs and Breschard chipped in with one RBI.

Kaitlyn Aasheim started on the mound for Albright. Aasheim picked up win number one on the season tossing a complete game for the Lions.

Rounding out the hits today for Albright was Slaydon Fisher, Veronica Heckman and Heather Pomante. Each Lion was also credited with one run scored in today's game one.

As a team the Lions racked up 13 runs on 13 hits while only striking out one time in after sending a total of 31 batters to the plate in the game.
 
Up Next:
Albright will play two more games tomorrow from Myrtle Beach at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. The Lions will face Kenyon College and University of Maine-Farmington at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m.