ELSAH, IL - The Principia Softball team played their first game action since March 2020 on Tuesday night with their home opener against the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy. Only one of the 15 women on Principia's team has played collegiate softball before, and a few Panthers are new to the sport of softball altogether. The far more experienced team from UHSP dominated both games of the doubleheader, but the Panthers held their heads high and supported each other throughout the games.
The defensive MVP for Principia was junior shortstop
Gracie Paul, who snatched several line drives and made some excellent put outs to first. Freshman
Emma Franklin also had a strong defensive evening, going errorless while playing every inning at first base. UHSP's pitching was outstanding in both games, but senior captain
Rosie Paul got Principia's first hit of 2022 with a single early in game two. Freshman
Karen Trevor-Roberts singled later in the game in what was her first ever at-bat in a softball game. Junior
Kelsie Huss also got a single for the only other Panther hit of the night.
Freshman captain
Avery Cobb pitched really well in her collegiate debut in game two, as the Panthers' inexperienced defense around her was the main reason UHSP scored so many runs (only six of their 36 runs were earned). Her biggest highlight came in the fourth inning when she struck out the side without allowing any earned runs. Cobb finished the night with seven strikeouts over five innings. Fellow freshman pitcher
Victoria Columbus had some strong moments in her collegiate debut in game one, pitching all three innings.
Despite the lopsided scores, Principia is grateful to be playing softball again, and the team looks forward to improving their mechanics as they gain experience moving forward. The Panthers' next game will be a doubleheader at Stephens College in Columbia, MO on March 24th.
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