NEWBERRY – The Newberry softball team won a pair of games against Mercyhurst, 13-0, and Claflin, 11-0, in the 2019 season opener at the Smith Road Complex on Saturday.

This marks the fourth straight season that the Wolves have started the year 2-0, dating back to 2016.

Game One vs. Mercyhurst (13-0)
The Wolves couldn't have started their 2019 campaign on a better note. In the bottom of the first, Natalie Willis, Haley Simonds, and Hannah Davis hit home runs back-to-back-to-back for an early 3-0 lead over the Mercyhurst Lakers.

Willis drove in two runs on a double hit through the left side in the next inning. While Simonds followed it up with a double of her own down the left field line to drive in two additional runs to make it 7-0.

Freshman Julia Bomhardt recorded her first career RBI when she singled through the left side in the bottom of the third.

Davis went yard for the second time in the game in the bottom of the fourth to give the Wolves a 10-0 lead. A Mercyhurst error and doubles from Daphne Peyton and McKenzie Barneycastle gave the Wolves a 13-0 advantage, leading to the game called early.

Alyssa Ball earned the win, allowing only three hits in three innings. The Lakers managed to load the bases with two outs when Ivy Hayes entered into the game for Ball at the start of the fourth inning. The freshman Hayes showed her composure, striking out the final batter in the inning to thwart Mercyhurst from scoring.


Game Two vs. Claflin (11-0)

Newberry's bats remained on fire as the Wolves recorded 11 runs on 14 hits in the second game of the day against the Claflin Panthers.

Willis led the Wolves early as the preseason All-SAC first team selection doubled to left center to drive in a run. Paige Meyer tripled down the right field line to send in two more runs.

Starting pitcher Selice Daley couldn't be touched to start the game as she forced the Panthers to ground or pop out in the first inning and struck out the side in the second.

The Wolves earned runners on the corners to start the bottom of the second after Kailey Carpenter tripled down the right field line and Bomhardt getting hit by a pitch. Carpenter and Bomhardt performed a double steal to score a run, while Willis drove in Bomhardt on a single.

Carpenter drove in another run the following inning after Claflin allowed the Wolves to load the bases. Abbie Valentine got in on the action with a two RBI single, giving Newberry an 8-0 lead overall.

Davis homered for the third time on the day to give the Wolves a 10-0 advantage in the bottom of the fourth. Meanwhile, Tatum Johnson drove in the final run of the day on a single through the right side.

Daley picked up the win as the junior gave up two hits and struck out five batters in four innings of work. Chelsey Cunningham replaced Daley to start the fifth inning, recording one strike out.

UP NEXT
The Wolves will be back at the Smith Road Complex tomorrow to complete the round robin tournament with matchups against Mercyhurst at 11 a.m. and Claflin at 3 p.m. Both games will be live streamed on NewberryWolves.tv with live stats also available at NewberryStats.com