KANSAS CITY, KAN. -- The SMWC softball team went 0-2 on its opening day of the 2024 season, falling to 10th-ranked Midland 8-3 and then to Concordia by a 1-0 score.
Abbi Henderson totaled three hits in the two games to lead the Pomeroys.
GAME 1
SMWC faced off against Midland ace and 2023 NAIA All-American Aliyah Rincon to open the season. The Pomeroys struggled to find any offense against Rincon, while the Warriors' lineup had early success against freshman
Marin Jacobs (0-1).
Midland took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Roni Foote hit her third home run of the season. Halle Meyer added a solo shot in the second to make it 3-0. After two more scored, SMWC coach
Jim Walker turned to
Emily Fitzwater in the circle.
Fitzwater held the Warriors to three runs the remainder of the game. SMWC's offense found its footing in the fifth against reliver Alexis Page. Henderson drove in
Nevaeh Pender and
Makayla Jackman with a single up the middle.
Ruby Gray scored on a double steal with Henderson swiping second base.
GAME 2
The Pomeroys were held without a hit until Henderson's infield single in the bottom of the fourth against Concordia.
Henderson was caught stealing, but SMWC still had a chance after Gray drew a walk. Gray, however, was thrown out trying to reach third on a
Jaleigh Crawford base hit to center field.
Lyric Krause grounded out to leave Crawford stranded at second base.
Summer Rocha struck out six and scattered three hits to Concordia, but she took the tough-luck loss when Concordia plated a run on an infield error.
Jasey Conn started another potential Pomeroy rally in the fifth with a single, but she was caught stealing.
In the seventh, Krause hit a one-out double to left field, but the Pomeroys left her stranded after Conn grounded out and Jackman struck out.
UP NEXT
SMWC faces No. 11 Baker on Monday at 10 a.m. CT, followed by by a noon CT game against Columbia (0-2), who fell 13-5 to Baker and 8-0 to Park on Saturday.
