ROCK HILL S.C. – The Towson University softball team dropped gams to Western Carolina University and Ball State University on the first day of the Winthrop Invitational Tournament, on Friday.
 
How It Happened (Game One):

• Western Carolina got things started in the bottom of the first and second innings
• Towson had doubles from Nicole Kidwiler and Jessica Reed in the fourth and fifth innings but could not capitalize
• The Catamounts took a 5-0 lead on HR by Myra Twitty 
• Towson collected three more hits in the final two innings to end the game with eight, one more than Western Carolina

Inside the Numbers (Game One):

• Rookie, Sydni Byers led with two hits while Jess DaBreo, Briana Ramirez, Mackenzie Lake, and Gracyn Houmis all had one. Jessica Reed and Nicole Kidwiler hit a double each
• Reed earned five assists; Houmis grabbed a pair while Lake and DaBreo picked up one apiece
• Emma Armstrong put out seven Catamounts and DaBreo put out five. Houmis and Reed put out a pair of players each, Paige Kostick and Lake both put out one
• Melissa Abrahamian took the loss
• Bre McDowell struck out the side her her only inning of work 

How It Happened (Game Two):

• Ball State strikes first in the opening inning after an RBI triple brings a runner home
• Both teams remain scoreless until Nicole Kidwiler hits a double in the top of the fifth inning, bringing Mackenzie Lake home to tie up the game at 1
• The Tigers capitalized on an error in the sixth, taking a 2-1 lead 
• The Cardinals responded in the bottom of the sixth with a sacrifice fly to tie up the game at 2
• Towson looked to win the game in the seventh but a double play ended the threat, forcing extra innings
• An error leaves the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, Faith Hensley of Ball State is walked to bring a Cardinal home to finish the game 3-2

Inside the Numbers (Game Two):

• Mackenzie Lake and Emma Armstrong both earn runs for the Tigers; Nicole Kidwiler earns an RBI
• Ally Hickman and Sydni Byers had two hits each for Towson while Cori Jones, Armstrong, and Kidwiler each pick up one
• Armstrong led the second game with eight putouts, Madyson Peters puts out five
• Ally Hickman collects three assists while Cori Jones and Lake grab a pair each
• Julia Jackson threw 112 pitches.

Beyond the Box Score:

• Byers currently leads Towson in batting with ten hits, three RBIs, and two runs
• Hickman is hitting .625 to begin the season with 5 hits in 8 trips to the plate
• On the day, Emma Armstrong put out 15 players

Next Up:

The Tigers continue in the Winthrop Invitational Tournament tomorrow, February 19 at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. as they move on to play Robert Morris University and Youngstown State.