Softball opens season at Minot State

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MINOT, N.D. – The University of Jamestown softball team opened the 2024 season against Minot State Tuesday evening. The Beavers won both games by one run, 4-3 in eight innings in the opener, and 5-4 in game two.

THE BASICS
SCORES: Minot State 4, Jamestown 3 (8 innings); Minot State 5, Jamestown 4
LOCATION: Air-Supported Dome—Minot, N.D.
RECORD: Jamestown 0-2, Minot State 5-1

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS
• Trailing 3-0 heading into the top of the fourth, the Jimmies got on the board thanks to a solo home run by Hope Ransome. Ransome finished 3-for-3 with a home run, double, and two runs batted in.
• Jamestown tied the game in the top of the sixth with a pair of runs. Kayla Quintanilla's single to center moved Sidnie Aasen up to third base, and Quintanilla advanced to second on the attempt to throw out Aasen at third. Ally Battistoni flied out to left, scoring Aasen to make it 3-2, then Ransome doubled to center, bringing home Quintanilla with the third UJ run. 
• Minot State had a runner at third base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Ransome was able to get a ground ball to shortstop for the final out of the inning. 
• The Beavers scored the game winning run in the bottom of the eighth on a two-out single.
• Jamestown finished with seven hits in the opener. Maddie Spaeth was 2-for-4, while Mackenzie Lefebvre recorded the other Jimmie hit.
• Ransome went seven innings in the circle but did not figure in the decision. She gave up three runs on five hits, striking out one and walking seven.
 
GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS
• The Jimmies fell behind 3-0 after Minot State plated two runs in the first and another in the second.
• Trinity Gregg got things started for Jamestown in the top of the fourth with a leadoff single, then stole second base. Samarah Martinez doubled to left center to bring in Gregg, then advanced to third on a flyout to right field one batter later. Mackenzie Lefebvre made it a 3-2 game after her groundout to second scored Martinez.
• MSU added a couple of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth, extending their lead to 5-2 going into the top of the seventh.
• With Gracie Fisher on first and two out, Gentrey Turin doubled to left center, giving the Jimmies runners at second and third. Gregg tripled to left field, scoring Fisher and Turin to cut the deficit to one run. MSU pitcher Kierra Fournier got Martinez to ground out to third to end the UJ threat.
• Gregg was 3-for-4 and Turin 2-for-3 as Jamestown recorded nine hits. Both of Turin's hits were doubles, and Gregg also had a stolen base.
• Abby Blair took the loss for the Jimmies, giving up two earned runs (five overall) on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings pitched. She struck out two and walked two.

FOR THE FOES
• Fournier went the distance in game two, striking out five and walking one.
• Taylor Eatherton, Gabi Dawyduk, and Chesie McLaughlin all had two hits in game two.
• In game one, Sara Van Wickler was 2-for-4 at the plate and Abby Lohse had a two-run home run.
• Reegan Floyd struck out eight over seven innings but left after seven innings with the score tied.

UP NEXT
• Jamestown hosts Valley City State (1:00 PM) and Dickinson State (7:30 PM) in the Nelson Family Bubble on Friday.