Columbus, Ga. – The Lynn University softball team split a pair of games in the first day of the Hughston Sports Clinic Classic Friday afternoon at Cougar Field.  The Fighting Knights defeated Miles College in the opener, 13-9 and fell to Columbus State, 9-1 in the second game and are now 2-2 on the season.

Game 1 Recap

The Blue & White got four hits apiece by Anne Marie Van Casteren and Katrina Lavadan as Lynn recorded a season-high 18 hits on the day.  Van Casteren also recorded four RBI while Callie Darlin recorded three on three hits.  Kasey Murray also drove in two with a pair of doubles.

Marianne Johnson got the win in relief of Murray who allowed just three hits in four innings in her pitching debut.  Despite giving up nine runs in the game, Lynn pitchers held Miles to just four base hits.

The Knights rallied from a four-run deficit after the first inning to beat the Golden Bears.  Lynn actually got ahead in their half of the first as Lavadan singled and stole second.  Van Casteren then smoked a two-out double to left center and she scored as Darlin singled up the middle as well.

Miles would get six runs in their half of the first on just two hits, four free passes and an error to take a 6-2 lead after the first inning.

Lynn would cut into the four-run hole with two runs in the third to cut the lead to 6-4.  Mandi Brown singled to lead off the inning and then stole second.  She would score on a single by Van Casteren who would also steal second on the very next pitch.  Darlin then singled and advanced to third on a throwing error.  Darlin would then try to score from third as Murray flew out to centerfield but was tagged out at home to stop the rally.

LU got another in the fourth as Miles committed a pair of errors which scored Brittany Gross but Miles got two in their half to make the score 7-5.

The teams went scoreless in the fifth but Lynn erupted for six runs in the top of the sixth to take an 11-7 lead.  Carisa Cook reached on an error to start the rally and Marcella Carrozza walked to put two runners on.  A one-out single by Lavadan loaded the bases for Brown who singled to right for an RBI.  Van Casteren then scored both Carrozza and Lavadan with a single.  A single by Darlin scored Brown and Murray followed up with a two-run double to score Van Casteren and Darlin. 

Miles got another run in the sixth but Lynn added on two more in the seventh.

Game 2 Recap

The Knights trailed from the get-go as CSU scored two unearned runs in the first and then two more in the third and fourth.

Lynn got on the board in the fifth as Cook and Megan Mayfield walked to lead off the inning.  Gross then singled to load the bases and a ground ball by Lavadan scored Cook.

That would be all Lynn could muster against the Cougars who scored three in the sixth to run-rule the Knights.

The Knights are back in action tomorrow afternoon for Day 2 of the Hughston Sports Clinic Classic.  LU will face the host Cougars at 3pm followed by No. 2 North Georgia at 5pm.  Fans can follow the audio broadcast at www.LynnFightingKnights.com and clicking on "Game Central."