Carlinville, IL– Blackburn Women's Softball opened their season against the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy on Saturday afternoon. They would fall in both games with the final scores being 10-7 and 10-1.

In game one, the Beavers jumped out to an early lead scoring four runs in the first and holding UHSP to zero. Kaylynn Kruep led the Beavers off and reached first on an error. After a sacrifice bunt from Sierra Hiser, Kruep advanced to third. Mckenzie Smith drove Kruep home with a double to put the Beavers up 1-0. Holly Heurman then doubled as well to put two runners in scoring position. Shelby Koeing would keep the hot start for the Beavers going with a triple which allowed two more runs to score. 

Kruep and Grace Mackey both drove in runs in the second inning, extending the Beavers lead to 6-0. UHSP answered with one run in the third and managed to add seven runs in the fourth inning to take the lead 8-6. 

Smith stopped the UHSP rally with a run in the sixth inning to bring the Beavers within one. However, UHSP added two runs in the seventh which proved too much to overcome as UHSP captured a 10-7 victory. 

The second game of the doubleheader saw UHSP score four runs in the first. Breana Allen singled in the second inning to score Zoe Mitchell to get Blackburn on the board, but the offense was unable to added more as they fell 10-1 in the nightcap. 

The team returns to action Sunday, March 3rd in non-conference action against the University of Wisconsin-Stout.