The Tiger softball team opened the 2010 season with a one-run victory to start the Friends University Classic. Doane defeated Benedictine College, 3-2, behind solid pitching and timely hitting.
Both teams were scoreless through the first three innings of the game. Christy Kobza led off the fourth inning with a single and was pinch ran for by Kelsi Holtus. Brooke Sampson added a single in between a pair of fly outs.
With two down in the inning, Holtus stole third and came in to score on an errant throw. Sampson moved into scoring position on the error and came around to score on a single by Alyssa Maraia to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
Doane added another run in the fifth inning. Whitney Poole reached on a walk and promptly stole second and third base. On the steal of third, the throw got away which allowed Poole to score the Tigers' third run of the game.
In the bottom of the fifth, Benedictine hit a pair of doubles to score their first run of the game. A single to right field with two outs in the inning scored the Ravens' second run of the game and pulled Benedictine within a run.
Doane starter Jennifer Liddell was relieved after five innings of work. She allowed five hits and two runs while striking out two.
Megan Wingate came in at the beginning of the sixth inning. Wingate found some trouble in the inning, following a hit and a walk but she was able to strike out Benedictine's Katie Welch to end the inning.
In the seventh, the Ravens were able to string together two singles and a walk with one out and put the winning run in scoring position against Wingate. Wingate struck out Jamie Welch and induced a ground ball to get out of the inning and pick up the save in the game. Liddell picked up the win for the Tigers.
Benedictine had opportunities in the game to score runs, stranding 11 runners on base. They finished with eight hits compared to the Tigers' six.
At the plate for Doane, Sampson led the way with a 2-for-3 effort with a run scored. Maraia went 1-for-3 with a RBI. Poole finished the game with three stolen bases as the Tigers had six in the game.