Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Fort Lewis College Athletics

Scoreboard

Hannah Gondini
Max DeHerrera/Sports Fanatic Photography
Junior outfielder Hannah Gondini was 1-for-1 with a stolen base in Thursday's loss to Western Washington (File photo).
5
Winner Western Washington WWU 2-4
2
Fort Lewis FLCSB 0-1
Winner
Western Washington WWU
2-4
5
Final
2
Fort Lewis FLCSB
0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Western Washington WWU 1 0 0 2 0 1 1 5 7 1
Fort Lewis FLCSB 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2

W: Kasner,Anna (2-2) L: Lorenson, Mandy (0-1)

Game Recap: Softball | | David Wilson, Assistant AD-Communications

Skyhawks fall by 5-2 final in Thursday's season opener against Western Washington

ST. GEORGE, Utah — The Fort Lewis College softball team opened the 2020 season on Thursday, falling by a 5-2 final to Western Washington University in the first of five games at the Courtyard Classic, hosted by Dixie State University.

Fort Lewis (0-1 overall) battled some first game jitters Thursday, and a little rust in its first chance to play outside on a diamond this spring.

"Absolutely, not being on the field the last few weeks hurt a little bit," said FLC head coach, Ashley Reeves. "We had some first-game nerves for sure. Not only were the girls playing their first game of the season, but playing their first game for a new coach and there's a lot of things to prove and to earn. But we were still able to get some work in, did some good things and know we just needed to clean up a few areas to have a chance to win that game."

Redshirt junior Mandy Lorenson got the start for the Skyhawks, making her first appearance after having the 2019 cut short after just two starts due to injury.

Lorenson escaped a bases loaded situation in the first inning, limiting the Vikings (2-4 overall) to just one unearned run and striking out the side. She'd finish with five of the FLC pitching staff's nine strikeouts Thursday, allowing three runs, two earned, in her 3.2 innings of work.

Junior pitcher Kendra Keahbone pitched a scoreless 0.2 of an inning and freshman Brianna Leavell had a solid collegiate debut as she allowed one earned run in 2.2 innings and struck out three.

"Brianna did a really nice job of getting a first-pitch strike. She threw 39 strikes to 19 balls, which is what you want to see from your pitcher," Reeves said. "Mandy struggled a little bit that first inning and was a little amped up in her first game back. When she settled in, she did very well. Once we can get her to trust herself and calm down, she's going to be hard to hit. And then Kendra came in with runners on base and did a nice job doing what we asked her to do. Overall, I liked what we saw from our pitchers. We just need to work ahead of hitters a little more."

Unfortunately for the Skyhawks, Western Washington starter Anna Kasner was also up to the task as she went all seven innings and struck out 15.

FLC was able to get after Kasner in the seventh when senior Taylor Hollestelle earned a leadoff walk and scored one batter later on a RBI double by Leavell.

Leavell, who finished 1-for-3 with the RBI and a run scored, also crossed home plate on the play following a two-base throwing error by the Vikings' catcher.

Junior outfielder Hannah Gondini with a pinch-hit single and swiped one of the Skyhawks' two stolen bases on the evening.

"Once we settled in, we started to make contact and played a lot better," Reeves said. "But we waited too long to get our bats going. We needed to be on base more, cut down on the strikeouts and put the ball in play. When we put the ball in play, we can make things happen and I was proud of our girls for taking the extra 60 feet when they had the chance."

With the season opener out of the way, the Skyhawks will now look to bounce back Friday when they square off against Notre Dame de Namur University at 10 a.m. before taking on Western New Mexico University at 12:30 p.m.

"Game One is hard for anybody, especially for teams that haven't been outside. But I don't want that to be a crutch for us. We know if we had played a little better, we could have won the game," Reeves said. "I think we're going to be OK, settle in, and hopefully win some games tomorrow."
 
Print Friendly Version