Softball Opens Season with Win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff; Falls to Missouri State & Central Arkansas

CONWAY, Ark. – Madison Didion allowed just one run on two hits and struck out six while Nia Bowe and Cayla Brown homered in Coppin State softball's 5-1 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff to open the season on Friday morning at the Central Arkansas Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Classic.  The Eagles fell to Missouri State and the host Bears later in the day.
 
The Basics

• Final Score: Coppin State 5, Arkansas Pine Bluff 1
• Final Score: Coppin State 0, Missouri State 13
• Final Score: Coppin State 0, Central Arkansas 17
• Records: Coppin State (1-2), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (0-13), Missouri State (11-7), Central Arkansas (11-8)
• Location: Conway, Ark. (Farris Field)

How it Happened (vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff)

• After both teams went scoreless in the first and Madison Didion struck out the final two batters in the second, Nia Bowe homered in her first at-bat of the season to lead off the botto half of the inning.
• Didion fanned two more in the third and the Eagles gave her extra insurance with three runs on a couple hits and a few defensive miscues.
• Patricia Soria reached on an error and scored on Cloe' Ochoa's RBI triple to follow. Megan Narvaez then reached on an error which scored Ochoa but Narvaez was thrown out at second.  Cayla Brown then pulled a home run down the line to give the Eagles a 4-0 lead.
• Coppin tacked on another run in the sixth as Bowe scored on a double steal with Melanie Aguilera stealing second on the play.
• Didion got the first out of the seventh but then allowed a solo home run, ending her streak of retiring 18-straight batters. She regrouped and retired the next two batters to earn the win.

Inside the Numbers (vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff)

• Nia Bowe and Melanie Aguilera both recorded two hits with Bowe scoring twice and driving in a run. Cloe' Ochoa and Cayla Brown also drive in runs while Patricia Soria and Megan Narvaez also had hits.
• Madison Didion retired 18 straight batters from the first inning through seventh inning and 20 of the last 21 batters.

Inside the Numbers (vs. Missouri State)

• Brissa Alvarado and Lexi Flom both pitched two innings allowing seven and five earned runs, respectively.  Jaylene Sierra pitched the fifth and final inning and allowed just a walk.
• Cayla Brown was the only Eagles player to reach base safely as she was hit by a pitch. Desiree Carrizosa also reached on a fielding error.

Inside the Numbers (at Central Arkansas)

• Patricia Soria doubled while Megan Narvaez, Nia Bowe and Melanie Aguilera also collected hits. Aguilera also drew a walk while Cloe' Ochoa and Lexi Flom did the same.
• Madison Didion allowed seven runs in the first two innings before Maren Bernal did the same in her third of an inning.  Jaylene Sierra tossed the final 1.2 innings and allowed just one earned run on three hits and a walk while striking out one.

Up Next

• Coppin wraps up their schedule in the Tournament on Saturday, March 2 with Southeast Missouri State at 9 am, followed by Louisiana Monroe at 6 pm.