CLEMSON, S.C. – The Wofford softball team suffered back-to-back losses on the first day of the Tiger Invitational hosted by Clemson University. The Terriers dropped both games 9-1 to No. 19 Mississippi State and (RV) Clemson. Wofford falls to 14-3 on the season.
GAME ONE
Margaret Axelson got the start against No. 19 Mississippi State, tossing 5.0 innings with two strikeouts. Sophomore hurler
Natalya Salo closed the game with 1.0 innings pitched. At the plate,
Kate Platte,
Rivers Sampson,
Brianna Stanley,
Kalli Petty, and
Desirae Devine each recorded a hit.
Kalli Petty recorded an RBI as well.
Both teams were scoreless in the first inning, but Mississippi State was able to get two runs on the board in the second inning. Neither team scored in the third. The Bulldogs were able to add one more run in the third inning. Wofford closed the gap to 3-1 in the fourth with an RBI double from
Kalli Petty.
Rivers Sampson would score the run. One more run from the Bulldogs in the fifth made it 5-1, but Mississippi State would end the game in six innings after stretching its lead to 9-1.
GAME TWO
Junior
Abby Greenwood started against Clemson in the second game of the day. Greenwood pitched 3.2 innings with one strikeout. Freshman
Maddie Berry made her second career appearance, throwing a third of an inning to close the game.
Rivers Sampson led the team with a 2-of-2 appearance at the plate, including one double.
Kate Platte and
Kaytlin Greenwood also recorded hits. Platte scored the lone run for the Terriers.
Wofford got on the board first, as
Kate Platte would score off a fielder's choice. With Wofford leading 1-0 after the first, Clemson was able to respond with two runs in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 lead. The Tigers would not let up after that, going on to win the game 9-1 in five innings.
The Terriers will be back in action on Saturday morning to take on Georgia Southern at 10:00 a.m. Wofford will close out the Tiger Invitational with one game on Sunday. The time and opponent will be finalized after tomorrow's game.