Softball bounces back to split on opening day

Clermont, FL—The Marshalltown Community College softball team opened up the 2017 season with a split in Clermont, FL on Friday.

The MCC softball team split a pair of games in Clermont, FL on Friday
The MCC softball team split a pair of games in Clermont, FL on Friday
March 10, 2017

Clermont, FL—The Marshalltown Community College softball team opened up the 2017 season with a split in Clermont, FL on Friday. The Tigers fell to Anderson JV 9-1 in the opener before rallying for a 13-4 victory over Niagara County Community College in the nightcap.

MCC got off to a slow start to open their spring trip, scoring just one run on a solo home run from Shaena Robinson (Gardnerville, NV/Douglas). The offense came alive in the nightcap with Tess Cheetham (Oceanside, CA/Oceanside), Dion Shirley (Van Meter, IA/Van Meter), and Jordan Carter (Sigourney, IA/Sigourney) picking up three hits each. Carter also earned the win in game two for the Tigers.

The Tigers got off to a good start in game two, scoring two runs in the first inning as Shirley and Robinson came around to score on an error. Niagara responded with two runs in the first and two runs in the second to take a lead.

Carter settled down in the circle to keep the Thunderwolves off the board in the third. Trailing 4-2 entering the fourth, MCC erupted for seven runs in the frame to pull ahead. Lexie Valentine (Des Moines, IA/Saydel) led off with a single and came around to score on a double from Carter. Courtney Fudge (Pleasant Hill, IA/East), Shirley, and Robinson delivered three straight singles and Cheetham delivered a three-run home run to power the offense.

Carter added a triple in the fifth inning and scored on another single from Fudge who late scored on a double from Shirley. Cheetham connected on another extra base hit, a triple to score Robinson for the team's final run.

Carter went the distance for the Tigers and struck out eight batters for her first win of the season. Cheetham, who was a double short of a cycle, drove in four runs while Shirley scored three times.

MCC is back in action for a triple header Saturday. The Tigers and Niagara square off at 7:00 AM followed by a matchup with Bethel JV at 9:30 AM. The final game is against Northland Community Technical College at 3:30 PM. All times are CST.