COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Stephens College softball team captured its first two victories of the season Friday, sweeping NCAA Division III Fontbonne University in a doubleheader at Battle High School. On a beautiful yet windy afternoon, the Stars delivered dominant offensive performances, winning 8-6 and 16-4.
In the opener, the Stars (2-6) trailed early after a two-run homer by Fontbonne in the first inning. Stephens responded with a run in the bottom half as Ivy Smart doubled to bring home Emma Angel. In the second, Landry Bales tied the game with a solo home run before Elise Kendrick launched a two-run shot in the third to give the Stars a 4-2 lead.
Fontbonne battled back in the sixth, tying the game at 5-5, but the Stars answered in the bottom half. Angel drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly before Kendrick delivered her second home run of the game, a two-run blast to secure the victory. Kendrick (1-3) also earned the win in the circle, tossing six innings, while Katie Dennis picked up the save with a scoreless seventh.
The Stars carried their momentum into game two, overwhelming Fontbonne with a nine-run second inning. Bales sparked the rally with a two-run double, followed by a three-run homer from Smart. Celeste Athon added an RBI single before Jackie Guerrero stole home, capping off the explosive frame.
Smart (1-0) earned the win, striking out four over four innings, while freshman Greenlee Adams closed out the game with a scoreless fifth.
Athon led the offense with three hits and three RBIs, while Angel, Kendrick, and Bales each contributed multiple RBIs in the victory.
"I thought our defense was much better today. Our pitchers did a very good job of limiting walks, and our defense did a great job limiting our errors," Head Coach Clint Poulsen said. "On the offensive end, we were able to take advantage of Fontbonne's mistakes and hit the ball well up and down the lineup all day long. I thought we did an excellent job of making sure that we put the pressure on them when we were on offense."
Stephens looks to build on its success as it prepares for its next matchup at home against Westminster College on Sunday, March 9. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
