TUSCON, Ariz. - After having their first four games postponed due to inclement weather the Dickinson softball team finally got their 2024 campaign underway on Sunday afternoon with their first pair of ten total games in the desert with setbacks to St. John Fisher College (4-2) and University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (15-3).

Game One: Cardinals 4, DEVILS 2
Time of Game: 2:00
Pitching Decision: W - Ainsley Evanetski (3-1) | L - Abby Kohan (0-1)

Inside the Game
Dickinson got out of the gates fast as a single by Jessie Sandusky and walk to Jane Lloyd was followed by a groundout for Eden Blanker to put two in scoring position for Zoe Kleeblatt. She produced the first run of the game with a sac bunt to third. Kohan stepped in next and ripped a single to right-center plating Lloyd for the 2-0 lead through just a half of an inning. Kohan struck out the leadoff batter in the home-half, before hitting Maddie Donlin and allowing a double to have two on with one out. However, she settled down to get another strikeout and grounder to end the frame. The Cardinals threatened once again during the second with two singles putting runners on the corners with one gone. Kohan again showed great determination to fan the next two batters to keep it at 2-0. 

The pitching continued to rule the game over the next two and a half innings as neither team could get a player to third. Then, in the last of the fifth, Erin McMahon went to the circle for Kohan and ran into immediate trouble as a walk and single had two on for Taylor Shackleton who came up with a two-run double to tie the score. Another single and free pass filled the cushions with two down, when CC Holmes poked a two-run single to give the Cards a 4-2 edge entering the sixth. Dickinson would not be able to get any closer as they could only work two walks over the final two frames.    

Inside the Devils Circle
Kohan was strong in her first game of the season going four frames of shutout ball scattering just four hits and striking out five. McMahon went two innings in relief and had one rocky frame with four runs, but also added two K's in her first collegiate action.

Game Two: Eagles 15, DEVILS 3 (F/5)
Time of Game: 1:30
Pitching Decision: W - Ally Eden (1-1) | L - Beth Belanger (0-1)

Inside the Game
The Devils went behind the eight-ball early as the first four UWL batters reached leading to two runs on RBI hits from Abbey Bosch and Maddy Bornbach. After a popout for Anna Jensen, the following three batters reached resulting in three more runs thanks to knocks by Joette Kassa and Lindsay Steien. Belanger finally got out of the frame by getting Brooke Howard to ground into a double play. Dickinson scratched one across during the home half as a leadoff single from Lloyd starting things off, before she swiped second and third allowing her to come home on a groundout for Blanker cutting it to 5-1 through one. The Eagles pushed it out to 7-1 three players into the second when Kyra Lard collected a two-run single. Dickinson tried to chip away in the bottom half as a hit for Kohan and two-bagger by Emma Varella placed runners at second and third with one gone. Unfortunately, a popup for Emily Whelan and groundout by Grace Melchionno ended the threat. 

Kaylie Renner took over in the circle to begin the top of the third and ran into some trouble of her own as six straight batters reached for UWL leading to three runs opening it up to 10-1 with one gone. Renee Tooze flew out for the second, but Ava Jaehnke produced the final RBI of the frame extending it to 11-1. Then, with one down in the home-half a knock by Jessie Sandusky and Eagle error letting Blanker reach had two on for Emma Glosson. She would work a walk to fill the bags for Kohan. During her at-bat a passed ball let one come across trimming the gap to 11-2. However, four singles and a double plated four for UWL in the top of the fourth making it 15-2. The Red and White added one more run in the last of the fifth with singles for Sandusky and Blanker setting the stage for Laila Gwathmey to produce an RBI single for the 15-3 final.

Inside the Devils Circle
Belanger went two innings allowing eight hits leading to seven runs and walking three, while Renner tossed three frames surrendering ten hits and eight runs (seven earned), while posting one walk and a strikeout.

The On-Deck Circle
Dickinson (0-2) will go in search of their first wins of the season later today against Salve Regina University at 4:30pm, before taking on Eastern Connecticut State at 6:30 in Tuscon. Read Full Article