GAME 1: Rockhurst 6, Parkside 4
GAME 2: Missouri S&T 6, Parkside 4
Parkside softball dropped both games of their opening day doubleheader down in Smyrna, Tennessee at the Music City Invitational. The Rangers fell to Rockhurst 6-4 in game one and 6-4 in game two to Missouri S&T.
 
Junior Dani Evans went 3-for-6 and junior Taylor Delgado went 3-for-7 in both games combined. Freshman Meagan Maza recorded her first career hit with Parkside in game one.
 
GAME 1 RECAP
The fourth inning was crucial for both teams, with nine total runs scored by both teams. Rockhurst got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Parkside scored all four of their runs in the fourth inning, jumping out to a 4-1 lead. In the fourth, freshman Meagan Maza led off with a single to get things going. After a groundout, junior Taylor Delgado hit another single and junior Jadynn Powell ripped a two-run double to put Parkside up 2-1. In the next at-bat, senior Alyssa Laxson hit an RBI groundout and junior Dani Evans finished off the inning with an RBI single to make it 4-1 Parkside.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Rockhurst scored five runs off three hits and a pair of errors to take the lead and Parkside couldn't push another run across.
 
Senior Kiley Akey pitched game one for Parkside, going 6.0 innings allowing six runs (two earned) off nine hits and six walks with two strikeouts. Offensively, the Rangers finished with six hits by six different players. Powell finished 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Maza went 1-for-2 and drew a pair of walks.
 
GAME 2 RECAP
The Rangers trailed 6-1 heading into the sixth inning and scored three runs in the sixth, but couldn't finish off the comeback. The Miners scored two runs in the first and third inning each, going up 4-0 before an Evans RBI double scored freshman Kati Gheorghe to make it 4-1. Missouri S&T answered again with two runs in the sixth, but Parkside scored three in the sixth as freshman Tia Livernash brought in freshman Logan Sivak on a fielder's choice and Delgado hit a 2-run triple to make it 6-4. But the Parkside comeback was stopped by the Miners.
 
Delgado finished 2-for-3 in the leadoff spot with two RBI while Evans went 2-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI. Senior Tijanne Ross pitched game two, going 6.0 innings allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits and two walks with six strikeouts.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Rangers have four more games in Smyrna this weekend, first facing Lindenwood at 11 a.m. and UIndy at 3 p.m. on Saturday.