The Lancer softball team had a busy opening weekend on the road with six games over the three-day weekend after the first week of school. The blue & gold went 2-4 over the road trip with the bats heating up at the end of the grueling schedule.
 
FRIDAY
A Friday night showdown under the lights saw the Lancers in St. Catharines to take on the Brock Badgers.
 
In the first game, it was a pitcher's duel from the beginning, but a late surge from the Badgers caused the blue & gold to take the loss by a score of 5-1. Highlights for the game include Jayde Melhuish-McGahan and Tia Nelson each collecting two hits.
 
In the second game, the Lancers came out looking to rebound from the first game but were met with strong defense from the Badgers and fell again by a score of 3-2. Highlights include multi-hit games from both Sienna Gale and Tia Nelson as well as a triple from Chloe Jones.
 
SATURDAY
On Saturday, the busy weekend continued as the blue & gold traveled to Hamilton to take on the McMaster Marauders on their campus diamond.
 
The Lancers came out with a vengeance eager to redeem themselves from the night before and stormed to a quick 4-0 lead in the first three innings. They continued the tirade with consistent hitting and solid defence to finish the game in a mercy situation by winning 8-0. Jayde Melhuish-McGahan earned the win from the mound with only three hits in six innings of work with seven strikeouts and no earned runs. Lauren Hickey had three hits and three RBIs throughout the game while Ella Duncan-Reda had two hits and one RBI.
 
In game two of the doubleheader, McMaster came out with something to prove as they capitalized on timely hitting to take the lead early in the game. Despite a late surge from the Lancer offense, the Marauders held on to the lead to win the game 5-2. Most of the Lancer lineup contributed to the game with two hits from Emma Hanley and a hit each from Chloe Jones, Ella Duncan-Reda, Ally Dufour, Ava Merritt, Lauren Hickey, and Jacqueline Pento.
 
SUNDAY
Sunday morning saw the Lancers on the University of Guelph campus to take on the Gryphons in the final day of a long first weekend of action.
 
Game one was a classic pitcher's duel with neither team scoring until the sixth inning when an Emma Hanley single, and Ella Duncan-Reda sacrifice bunt, and a Chloe Jones pop fly forced the Gryphons into an error to score Hanley. The Lancers added an insurance run in the seventh inning with Ally Dufour making it to second base on another Gryphon error, Sienna Gale hitting a single, and Cylee Hickey getting an RBI to make the game 2-0. Flawless defense and great pitching kept a strong Guelph team scoreless. Jayde Melhuish-McGahan earned the win on the mound, giving up only three hits and zero earned runs with 6 strikeouts over seven innings of work.
 
In the second game of the doubleheader, both team's offenses came alive for a high-scoring and high-hitting game. Despite the Lancers scoring first in the opening frame, the Gryphons kept piling on the hits and runs to win the game 12-6. Emma Hanley, Ella Duncan-Reda, and Chloe Jones all had multi-hit games for the blue & gold.
 
UP NEXT
Next weekend, the Lancers have their home opener on Saturday, September 13th as they take on the McMaster Marauders at Mic Mac Park at 2:00pm & 4:00pm. They also play Brock on Sunday at 11:00am & 1:00pm. Come out and support the blue & gold or follow along on Game Changer.