Benedictine Jumps Out Early; Downs Tiger Softball

SHAWNEE, Kan. — Benedictine (Kan.) scored all eight of its runs in the first three innings and went on to defeat Doane softball 8-3 in neutral-site action Saturday morning.

Doane plated a run in the second and added two more in the fourth to pull within 8-3, but the Ravens' pitching staff kept the Tigers off the board the rest of the way.

Benedictine struck first with a two-run home run in the bottom of the first, then added three runs in the second and three more in the third to build an 8-1 cushion. Doane's lone run early came in the top of the second when Hannah Pack singled to center to drive in Addison Parsons, who opened the inning with a double.

The Tigers answered again in the fourth. Natalie Ascencio reached and later scored when Parsons lined her second double of the day, an RBI two-bagger to center. Moments later, Kayla Meyer delivered an RBI single to right as a pinch hitter to bring home another run and make it 8-3.

Doane finished with six hits, led by Parsons, who went 2-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Pack drove in a run, while Meyer recorded a pinch-hit RBI single.

In the circle, Faith McDonald started for Doane, and the Tigers' bullpen settled in after the early surge. Ascencio tossed 3.2 innings in relief, allowing just one hit while working through a pair of walks.

(generated by ChatGPT)