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*Official stats/box scores not available at the time of this release
JACKSON, Mich. – A long year without games finally came to a close when Macomb Softball took the field for a non-conference doubleheader at Jackson Community College on Tuesday (March 9) afternoon. The Monarchs – exactly one removed from their last regular season game in 2020 – secured an opening day split after bouncing back from an 8-0 opening game loss to post a resounding 18-10 victory in game two.
The split leveled the records of Jackson and Macomb at 1-1 apiece on the season.
After a tough first game, the Monarchs found themselves in a hole once again, trailing 9-3 in the latter game before mounting an incredible comeback. Down by six runs at 9-3, head coach Jim Beard called on sophomore Skye Norris (Macomb, Mich./Anchor Bay) to enter the circle and slow down the Jackson bats.
Norris did that and more, shutting down an otherwise high-powered Jackson offense by not allowing an earned run the rest of the way. Norris' effort in the circle shifted the momentum back to the Monarchs as the Blue & White would go on to outscore Jackson 15-1 to earn an 18-10 win and an opening day split.
Norris got the win in her first appearance of 2021 and was aided by a strong offensive performance, sparked by a hit back up the middle in the third inning by Madison Beard (China Twp., Mich./Marine City). The hit drove in a run and would start an avalanche of scoring for the Monarchs as the Blue & White poured it on with 15 runs over the next three innings to post the eight-run win in five innings.
Danielle Erickson (Sterling Heights, Mich./Sterling Heights) hit the ball hard all day to the tune of six hits and was followed closely by Gabrielle Parrish (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) with five hits. Jenna Casey (New Baltimore, Mich./Anchor Bay) and Kennedi Sobol (Marine City, Mich./Marine City) joined in on the offensive fun by recording four hits each.
Other top performers included Jackie Seyfarth (Sterling Heights, Mich./Stevenson) who posted five solid innings of work in the circle for the Monarchs on Tuesday afternoon.
The Monarchs have some time off before their next scheduled games – a doubleheader at Mott on March 30.
