BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Missouri S&T softball opened play at the Alvy Early Invitational on Friday with a split, falling to Washburn before responding with a statement win over St. Mary's (Texas).
Game 1: Washburn 8, Missouri S&T 2
Missouri S&T got on the board early in the opener, as Taylor Nelson (Hailey, ID/Phillips Exeter Academy) launched a solo home run in the second inning to give the Miners an early lead. Washburn answered in the third with a four-run inning to swing momentum, capitalizing on timely hits to take control of the contest.
The Miners continued to battle offensively, adding a second run in the fourth inning when AJ Agers (DeSoto, MO/St. Pius X) doubled and later scored on an RBI single from Molly Fitzgerald (Crystal Lake, IL/Marian Central Catholic). Missouri S&T put runners on base in multiple innings but was unable to string together extended rallies, as Washburn added insurance runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh to pull away. Nelson and Fitzgerald each drove in a run for the Miners in the opener, while Agers finished with an extra-base hit.
Game 2: Missouri S&T 9, St. Mary's (Texas) 7
The Miners answered in emphatic fashion in the nightcap, erupting for eight runs in the first inning to defeat St. Mary's (Texas) 9–7. After St. Mary's scored three runs in the top of the first, Missouri S&T responded with a massive rally highlighted by back-to-back-to-back home runs from Agers, Fitzgerald, and Nelson to swing momentum immediately.
Agers led the offense, finishing 2-for-3 with four RBIs, including two home runs. Agers added a two-run homer, while Fitzgerald and Nelson each drove in a run with their first-inning blast. Claire Lopez (Olathe, KS/Olathe Northwest) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Keira Jones (Richmond Hill, GA/Richmond Hill) added a pair of hits as the Miners totaled nine runs on eight hits.
In the circle, Mia Miller (Waterloo, IL/Waterloo) earned the win to improve to 2–1 on the season after working six innings, and Riley Wilkinson (Marshall, MO/Marshall) closed the door in the seventh to pick up the save. Despite a late push from St. Mary's, Missouri S&T held on to secure the win.
What's Next
Missouri S&T continues play at the Alvy Early Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 7, facing Arkansas Monticello at 11 a.m. before taking on East Central at 1:30 p.m.
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