Box score from Wheaton to follow.

Gordon College Softball cracked open their 2023 season this afternoon at the DiamondPlex in Winter Haven, Florida where they faced the Allegheny Gators before taking on the Wheaton College Thunder. In the first game of the doubleheader, the Fighting Scots were hot at the plate, holding the lead until the Gators used their home field advantage to take the narrow 10-9 victory. Next, Gordon's Mara Little battled in the circle against Wheaton as it was a pitcher's duel until the Scots broke it open in the fifth to take the 1-0 edge before shutting out their opponents to lock in their first win of the season. 

Gordon vs. Allegheny

• The Scots wasted no time getting on the board as they immediately took advantage of their first ups, grabbing a four run lead off of three hits topped off with a monstrous two-run double to left center from Ami Rivera. However, the Gators soon retaliated with a two-run homer, cutting their deficit in half to bring the score to 2-4 at the end of the first. 
• After keeping the Scots at bay in the second, Allegheny tacked on another run to make it a one-run game but the Fighting Scots continued to pour it on in the fifth, eventually taking a three-run lead (6-3) after Hannah Bouvier brought Little across the plate. However, the Gators were quick to close the gap as they came within one once again in the home half of the fifth (5-6). 
• Gordon's Isabella Rivera was unsatisfied with their lead as the sophomore sent a rocket over the left field fence to add three to the Scots' tally to make it 9-5. Allegheny was able to score two more in the sixth, heading into the final inning 7-9 when they used their last ups to their advantage to seal the 10-9 walk-off win.

Gordon vs. Wheaton

• In the nightcap, the squads were both solid defensively, remaining at a stalemate until the fifth when the Fighting Scots broke the standstill to get one up on the board.
• Little continued to command the rubber, holding the Thunder scoreless until Wheaton found themselves in scoring position before rookie Gabrielle Olsen ended the inning with a diving catch behind the plate to hold on to the lead for the Scots. In Wheaton's remaining at bats, Little kept the Thunder off of the bags to seal their first victory of the season, 1-0. 

Beyond The Box Score

• Freshmen Brooke Husson and Emily Graham both had their collegiate pitching debut in game one. 
• Rookie Jayden Johnson earned her first hit as a Scot against Allegheny.
• Senior Mara Little earned her first win of the season on the mound. 
• The Fighting Scots continue playing in the PFX Games tomorrow, March 5 as they will face the Simmons Sharks at 9 a.m. in Auburndale, Florida.