Bison softball had a successful run in South Carolina, finishing 4-1 at the Winthrop Invitational from Feb 24–26.

In the first game of the tournament, the Bison scored one run in the first inning, earning the lead. However, North Carolina Central responded by scoring a run in the top of the second inning, leading to a 1-1 tie. The score was tied until the third inning when Anna Gimmestad ’19 hit a home run to left field. Raeanne Geffert ’20 only gave one unearned run in her five innings of pitching in addition to striking out nine batters. Lauren Lichtenwalner ’20 pitched two hitless innings. The Bison had seven hits in total, including a pair of singles from Paulina Gutkin ’18, two RBI doubles by Meghan Kovac ’18 and Lauren Hadley ’19, and two singles by Ryanne Rokos ’19 and Christina Martinez ’17.

In the second game of the tournament, the Bison just fell short to Winthrop, 5-6. This game extended into eight innings, with a 5-5 tie at the top of the eighth inning. The Orange and Blue were ahead 4-1 in the first inning; however, Winthrop scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game 4-4. Winthrop scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning.

The Bison took on Eastern Tennessee State University in the third game of the tournament and won 7-4. Geffert pitched five innings and struck out two batters while on the mound. Kovac and Hadley had three hits each in addition to two singles by Marisa Alemany ’20 and singles from Gimmestad, Gutkin, Chaylen Andolino ’17, Martinez, Jacklyn Tyburk ’17, and Celina Antonellis ’18.

Eastern Kentucky didn’t stand a chance against the Bison on Feb. 25. The Orange and Blue capitalized on Kentucky’s four errors and pulled out a 2-1 win. Lara Bean ’17 pitched a solid game and only allowed one run, striking out two batters during her five innings of play. The Bison advanced and scored on two out of Kentucky’s four errors. Carolyn Wan ’17 went two-for-two in the batter’s box in addition to singles from Alemany, Gimmestad, Gutkin, and Andolino.

In the final game of the tournament, the Bison shut out Mount St. Mary’s 4-0. Kovac hit her second home run of the season, making the score 3-0. Geffert struck out five batters in the five innings she played. She had pitched 10 straight innings and did not give up a run. Overall, Kovac hit .500 with two doubles, a home run and seven RBIs during the five-game tournament.

“I think we’ve had a really great start to the season. The best part of this weekend, and last weekend, is that we have proved we can play on Sunday, which is always the hardest game of the weekend,” Kovac said.

The Bison are now 8-2 overall and will play four games in the Colonial Classic Tournament in Washington from March 4–5.