Game One - Lipscomb
Game Two - Virginia Tech

Charleston, SC – The Wagner College softball team opened its 2012 season in dramatic fashion, as the Seahawks fell to Lipscomb, 7-6, in extra innings before Virginia Tech upended the Seahawks, 8-0, on the opening day of the University of Charleston Games.

Three straight leadoff hits by Kristen Matteoni (Reno, NV / Galena), Kelsey Parker (Lynnwood, WA / Lynnwood), and Hayley Sullivan (Bakersfield, CA / North), set the table for a four run first inning, as all three crossed the plate, along with Brittany Huss (Anthem, AZ / Boulder Creek), to give Wagner an early 4-0 lead.

Freshman Samantha Bedker (Phoenix, AZ / Sandra Day O'Connor) saw her first collegiate action, getting the start in the circle for Wagner, but was relieved after facing just three batters, as junior Judy Betz (Ashburn, VA / Broad Run) took the rubber in relief. The veteran righthander gave up one hit, which led to a run, but struck out the next two batters to keep the Green & White with a controlling 4-1 lead.

Parker would keep her hot bat going in the top of the second inning as she blasted a single down the right field line, which scored junior Carley Nicoletti (Plainville, NY / C.W. Baker), who led off the inning with a walk. Nicoletti remained a perfect 4-4 for her career in stolen bases, as she took second before crossing the plate on Parker's second hit of the day.

Betz would give up five runs on seven hits in the next four full innings, as the Bison fought their way back to take a 6-5 lead heading into the sixth inning.

Senior Vanessa Lenart (Fontana, CA / Henry J. Kaiser HS) led off the top of the sixth inning reaching base on a Bison error, but scored two batters later as Parker laced her third hit of the afternoon with a single up the middle, tying the score at 6-6.

Betz kept the Bison off the score sheet in the bottom half of the sixth and seventh innings, but after the Seahawks failed to score in the top of the eighth, Lipscomb took advantage. With the extra-inning runner rule in effect, the Bison began the inning with a runner on second base, then played small ball to score the game-winner.

The Seahawks' 11 hits were the most the team has recorded in a single game dating back to April 18, 2011, when they posted a season-high 13 against Central Connecticut State. Parker ended the day with three hits, while Matteoni and fellow sophomore Ashley Rollins (Fairfax, VA / Fairfax) each had two.

The opening day loss though, marked the third straight season the Seahawks have been defeated in their first contest of the year.

With little time for rest after the extra-inning affair, the Seahawks readied themselves for ACC opponent, Virginia Tech, in their second game of the day.

Like the Lipscomb game, the freshman, Bedker, was handed the ball for the start of the game. The Hokies quickly jumped on the rooke's offerings though, recording six runs on four hits, including a grand slam, to force head coach Glen Payne to make a change. Payne turned to another newcomer, as he brought in fellow freshman Olivia Zwick (Surrey, Canada / Earl Marriot) to come on in relief.

The Canadian native settled in well, allowing just one hit from the first seven batters she faced. The Hokies added two more runs in the top of the third inning to make the score 8-0, and put pressure on the Wagner offense.

Virginia Tech allowed just two base hits the entire day though, as the game went just five innings before being called with the final score 8-0.

The Seahawks will be back in action on Saturday in day two of the University of Charleston Games, when they take on Louisiana-Monroe and Middle Tennessee. The first game is scheduled for a noon start.