CHARLOTTE, N.C. ? Mindy Bean went 5-for-8 at the plate to lead the Tigers to a pair of season opening wins at the First Pitch Classic hosted by UNC Charlotte on Friday. Towson (2-0) defeated Seton Hall 6-3 in its opener before rallying for the 6-3 come from behind win over Charlotte in the nightcap.
In the opener against Seton Hall, the Pirates scored an early run and led 1-0 after two innings of play. In the bottom of the third, the Tigers opened the inning with back-to-back base hits. Bean then knocked her second double of the game to tie the score at 1-1. Meaghan Clark would add a sacrifice fly in the inning to put the Tigers on top 2-1. Towson would add another two runs in the bottom of the fourth with one of those coming on Bean's third double of the game. The Pirates would make it a 4-3 game with a pair of runs in the fifth before Towson would add two more in the sixth to clinch the 6-3 victory.
The Tigers pounded out 10 hits in the game led by Bean, who was 4-for-4 at the plate. She also tied the school record for doubles in a game with three while knocking in two runs. Six other Tigers recorded at least one hit in the game including Clark.
Kelly Ebner earned the start for the Tigers going five innings while striking out six and walking one to earn the victory. Dominique Ortega saw her first action in the circle for Towson, going the final two innings and not allowing a hit.
In the nightcap Towson found itself in an early hole as the host 49ers scored single runs in the first and fourth innings. The Tigers finally got things going with two unearned runs in the fifth to tie the score. Towson scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 6-2 lead in the contest. Sammi DiPompo had an RBI double in the inning while Bean had her fourth double of the day which scored two more. The Tigers capped the scoring in that frame on Stef Streets' RBI single. The 49ers would add a single run in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 6-3 game.
Kim Lempa was 3-for-4 out of the lead-off spot in the second game with two runs scored while Bean had two more RBIs.
Shannon Johnston hurled a complete game for the Tigers as she allowed three runs on 10 hits in the contest and picked up her first victory of the season.
The Tigers return to action on Saturday, February 21 for day two of the First Pitch Classic. Towson will face St. Francis at 10:30 a.m. before pool play in the tournament begins with the Tigers playing St. Francis again at 2:30 p.m.
