GREENVILLE, N.C. - The Towson University softball team began its season Friday at the East Carolina Pirate Classic and picked up a pair of victories after defeating Cleveland State 9-2 and Ohio 7-5 on the tournament's opening day.
The wins were especially significant for Tiger head coach Lisa Costello, who earned her 500th career victory with the Tigers as a result of the Ohio win in the second game of the day. She is the all-time wins leader among head coaches in Towson softball history.
The Tigers (2-0), used a potent offense against Cleveland State early in the opening game, piling on six runs in the third inning. After Hailey Balk hit an RBI single up the middle scoring freshman centerfielder Olivia Yarbrough in the first inning, freshman Caitie Barber roped an RBI double that scored junior Maureen Hepner in the second inning giving Towson a 2-0 lead.
The Tigers continued their offensive charge in the third, sending 12 batters to the plate and slugging a pair of two-run home runs off the bats of Barber and senior first baseman Bina Abbott.
The 8-0 cushion was plenty for senior pitcher Katie Lingmai, who went the full seven innings and allowing just two earned runs. She struck out seven and yielded just three hits to pick up the win.
Balk and Barber each had three runs batted in, while Yarbrough walked four times, scored three runs and stole a base for Towson.
Against Ohio, the Tigers got three hits, two runs batted in and two runs scored from Delanie Dunham in the win.
After the Tigers scored three runs in the first inning, Ohio tied the game at 3-3 in the third inning on Lauren Gellerman's solo home run.
However, the Tigers would answer thanks to Macie McGeehan's two-run triple in the fifth inning, giving Towson a 7-5 lead they would hold for the rest of the game.
Making the first start of her career, freshman Ambar Hickman pitched three innings and struck out four batters. Sophomore Missy McCormick relieved Hickman and earned the win, going four innings and allowing two runs.
The Tigers continue the tournament tomorrow with games against Cleveland State and Rider.
