COLUMBIA, S.C. --- Allen softball kicked-off their second season under head coach Kaela Robinson Saturday with an opening-day doubleheader against Columbia International University. The Yellow Jackets held an early lead in each game, but ultimatley fells to the Rams 9-1 (5 innings) in game one and 9-3 in game two.
GAME 1:
The Yellow Jackets started their 2024 campaign by sparking their offense early on Saturday as
Destiny Breton singled to score
Tania Shoulders from second base and give Allen a 1-0 lead after the first. It would be a lead that held strong until the third when CIU responded with three-runs, including a two-run home run from Josie Self. The Rams added five runs to their total in the fourth and one run in the fifth.
Elissa Rich made her collegiate debut in the circle as the Anderson, S.C. native struck out four batters over her five innings of work.
GAME 2:
While they an early lead in game one, Allen instead was faced with an early deficit in game two of Saturday's doubleheader. Trailing 1-0 in the first inning, the Yellow Jackets quickly bounced-back with Shoulders scoring her second run of the day on a fielding error from CIU. On the next play,
Zykhia Crisler singled to move Breton into scoring possession before two at-bats later Allen saw Rich bring Breton in from third on a groundout RBI, and put the Yellow Jackets in front, 2-1 after the first.
Later in the second, after CIU tied the game in the top-half of the inning, freshman
Naziha Alfred took the first pitch of her collegiate career and bashed a double off the right-center field fence. After Alfred stole third base,
Zakiyah Henderson drove in Allen's third run of the game.
In the circle, Alfred registered five strikeouts to just two walks across her first seven innings of the season.
WHAT COACH ROBINSON IS SAYING:
"It was great to see this group play as a team for the first time today," said Robinson. "While it wasn't the winning results we had hoped for, I'm proud of how our team competed and I believe we got better today. Games like these will help us as our season continues."
UP NEXT:
The Yellow Jackets continue their early season slate as Allen will welcome Claflin to MLK Park Sunday, Feb. 11 for a doubleheader set to begin at 1:00 p.m.
