NEWBERRY - The Newberry College Wolves' softball team kicked off its 2015 campaign with a pair of tightly contested games with the Francis Marion University Patriots at the Smith Road Complex on Saturday afternoon.

Newberry won the first game 3-2, but lost the second game 5-4 in eight innings. The Wolves (1-1) will host Chowan University tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 8) at noon.

Game One: Newberry 3, Francis Marion 2
A solo homerun by newcomer Jeri Loffler (Weekie Wachie, Fla.) and a two-run double by Mallory Gerndt (Burke, Va.) pushed the Wolves to the win in the season-opening game.

Starting pitcher Madison Burnett (Pickens, S.C.; 1-0) allowed two runs on five hits in the complete game win on a two-run homer in the top of the second. Loffler responded in the bottom of the second with a homer in her first at bat wearing the scarlet and gray, making it a 2-1 Francis Marion lead after two innings.

Burnett worked out of a tough jam in the fourth to keep FMU from extending its lead. After the Patriots loaded the bases with no outs, the senior induced two fielders' choices and a fly out to left to keep the guests off the board.

Newberry took the lead in the fifth after Cassie Harrell (Williamston, N.C.) led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Ashlen Ayres (Kennewick, Wash.) singled and stole second and Gerndt smashed a line drive double to the left-center gap to drive two runs home and put the Wolves up 3-2.

Burnett allowed one runner in each the sixth and seventh, but a double play and a groundout kept FMU from threatening.

Gerndt was 2-for-3 with the two RBIs in the game, as Newberry picked up seven hits and committed no errors. FMU's Kaitlin Munda (0-2) was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs - two earned - on seven hits in 5.0 innings. Shannan Lopez earned two singles for the guests.

Game Two: Francis Marion 5, Newberry 4 (8 innings)
Newberry scored the game-tying run in the bottom of the seventh, but was unable to score in the extra frame, allowing the Patriots to escape with the split.

FMU's Lopez provided the guests with their necessary offense in regulation, blasting a three-run homerun in the third and leading off the fifth with a solo homer.

Despite trailing 3-0, Newberry responded well in the bottom of the third. Ayres reached on an error, Gerndt singled and Maude McCourry (Centreville, Md.) walked to load the bases. Two runners were able to score on wild pitches and another scored on a second error to tie the game.

The Patriots looked as if they would hold onto the lead for the win in the seventh, but a Gerndt single started a one-out rally. McCourry reached on a fielding error and two straight wild pitches allowed Gerndt to scamper home and send the game to extra innings.

FMU's Taylor Barrineau plated the Patriots' run in the extra inning with a two-out double and Newberry was able to advance the runner to third with one out before a strikeout and a groundout ended the contest.

Gerndt was 2-for-4 in the game, as Newberry only earned three base hits in the game. Hailey Drawe (Oceanside, Calif.) had a single and Madison Tepfenhart (York, S.C.) drew three walks.

Kaite Carnes pitched 7.0 innings and allowed four runs - only one earned - with five walks and five strikeouts to get the win for FMU. Shelby Kelley pitched the eighth inning to earn the save. Brittany Middleton (Lizella, Ga.; 0-1) went the distance in the losing effort, allowing five runs on eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts.