KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Simmons softball's (3-2) offense exploded to a 10-1 victory over Concordia-Chicago (2-2) as the Sharks split the day on Wednesday afternoon. 

GAME 1: SIMMONS 10, CONCORDIA-CHICAGO 1

Kinney escaped an early two-out, runners on first and second jam in the top of the first inning catching Arissa Santo gazing at strike three to minimize the damage. In the home half of the frame, the Sharks gave Kinney a two-run lead to work with.

Junior centerfielder Raya Anderson opened the inning beating out a bunt single. The Sharks quickly loaded the bases following walk from Emily Deleault and a single up the middle by Jordyn Rubin. Sophomore Ally Hyde poked an opposite field single into right field to plate Anderson with the game's first run. Two batters later, classmate Emma Soule brought home Deleault for the second run to make it a 2-0 ballgame.

It was enough for Kinney as she retired the next six Cougar batters before giving up a leadoff walk in the top of the fourth. However, Kinney was able to get out of the inning unscathed, striking out McKyler Morris with runners at the corners.

An inning later, the Cougars took advantage of a Sharks defensive miscue to break-up the shutout and cut the deficit to 4-1. But Simmons answered in the home half. Soule capped off a six-run fifth, ripping a three-run double into left field to seal the victory for the Sharks.

GAME 2: URSINUS 5, SIMMONS 3

The Sharks jumped on the board first, pushing across a pair of runs in the top of the third inning due to timely two-out hitting. With the bases loaded and two outs, Kinney roped a double to the base of the left centerfield fence to plate sophomore Trinity Payne and Soule.  

Ursinus answered in the bottom of the frame to cut the deficit in half before tying up the ballgame in the bottom of the third. But it did not stay tied for long. In the top of the fourth inning, Payne rocketed an opposite field double into right field to bring home sophomore Emery Kreidel-Reimer to re-gain the lead for the Sharks.

It was a short-lived lead. The Bears pulled ahead by one, scoring twice in the bottom of the fourth then added an insurance run in the two innings later to take the 5-3 lead.

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Sophomore right-hander hander Piper Kinney improved to 3-0 on the season tossing five innings allow just one unearned run while scattering two hits and striking out four.
• In the second game of the day, Kinney went 1-3 with a double and two RBI against Ursinus.
• Sophomore Trinity Payne went 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored against Ursinus.
• Sophomore Emma Soule registered a career single-game best driving in four base runners, going 2-for-4 with two doubles against Concordia.

UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the diamond tomorrow, Thursday March 7 against Alfred University (9 a.m.) and Husson University (1:30 p.m.)