LITTLE RIVER, S.C. – The Thiel College softball team opened its 2023 season Sunday at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. Thiel opened the season with losses to Rosemont (3-2) and Sweet Briar (3-1).
 
Kylee Yothers (Indian Head, Pa./Connellsville Area) gave Thiel a 1-0 lead over the Rosemont Ravens in the first inning when she hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Kylie Heid (Monaca, Pa./Central Valley) to score.
 
Rosemont countered with two runs in the bottom of the first and one run in the fourth. It remained a 3-1 game until Thiel's last at-bat when Julianna Sloan (Kingsville, Ohio/Edgewood) hit a solo homer over the left field fence.
 
Dani Sharpe threw five innings for the Ravens. Myora Slaughter picked up the save. Kayla Roddy (Cincinnati, Ohio/Oak Hills) took the loss. Roddy struck out two batters and allowed two earned runs on six hits.
 
Sloan led the Tomcats at the plate in the first game with a home run and a triple. Heid doubled and scored a run.
 
The Sweet Briar Vixens plated two runs in the first inning and held on to beat the Tomcats, 3-1.
 
Thiel picked up its run in the third on an RBI by Sloan. Riley Ladd (Mineral Ridge, Ohio/Mineral Ridge) went 2-for-3 at the dish in the second game while Roddy doubled.
 
Brooke Patrick threw a complete game for the Vixens with four strikeouts. Lauren Bonner (Hermitage, Pa./Reynolds) allowed three runs on seven hits.
 
Thiel will play King's and Widener Monday at Central Park Sports Complex in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. The game versus King's will begin at 5 p.m. while the game against Widener is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.