The 2024 season is officially underway for North Greenville softball as the Crusaders opened up the season with a split of a doubleheader against the Jaguars of Augusta University. Game 1 saw North Greenville come from behind in the middle innings and hang on to win with a final score of 6-3. NGU briefly held a two run lead in game two, but a big bottom of the inning by Augusta proved to be enough as the Jaguars were able to take game two with a final score of 9-6. For the day, NGU posted a total of nine runs, sixteen hits, and an error.
Game one opened up with a bang as the Crusaders were able to get into the run column early with a two-run double by
Maddie Stone. However, Augusta quickly responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. AU claimed the lead with a sacrifice fly in the third inning, but North Greenville would come back in the fourth with a two-run home run by
Maddie Stone.
Callie Trapp made her first ever collegiate hit a home run to extend the NGU lead to two. Virginia Biship would also come through in the inning with an RBI double.
Karley Green would take care of things in the sixth and seventh innings, allowing just one runner to preserve the lead and record her first win of the season.
Game two began with a scoreless first inning. Augusta was the first on the scoreboard with a wild pitch that allowed a run to score. NGU would bounce back in the top of the third with
Karley Green hit her first home run of the season to score three. However, the Jaguars would put together a big bottom of the third, resulting in six runs to give the Jaguars a 7-3 lead. North Greenville responded in the top of the fourth when
Amber Hughes and
Ansley Fowler posted RBIs to but the lead to two. AU once again answered in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own including a home run. NGU was the last to score in the game with an RBI single by
Ali Hartin, but it would not be enough as Augusta would hang on for the win.
Sydney Clark, who started and pitched the first 2.1 innings, was charged with the loss.
Karley Green posted 4 hits including a home run and pitched a complete 7.0 innings with just 4 walks and 3 hits allowed while striking out 4.
Maddie Stone put together a strong game one, finishing with 4 RBIs, 2 hits, and a home run.
Virginia Bishop posted 2 hits, an RBI, a walk, and a run scored.
North Greenville will return to action on Saturday, February 3rd against the Anderson Trojans at Jan McDonald Field.
