HICKORY, N.C. – The Mercyhurst University softball ball team opened the 2015 season in Hickory North Carolina Saturday morning, falling to Lenoir-Rhyne, 8-0, in five innings. The Lakers would come out later in the afternoon to defeat Lees-McRae, 8-0, in six innings, to finish opening day 1-1.

Mercyhurst would struggle at the plate in game one, recording only one hit. First basemen Allison Yule produced a single in the fourth inning with no runners on and one out. Melissa Woods would come in to pinch run for Yule with Becky Malaga coming to the plate. Malaga drew a walk, advancing Woods into scoring position at second. Tawny Godin would pinch run for Malaga, as Godin and Woods would pull off a double steal on the ensuing pitch. With runners on second and third, one out, Kayla Larson struck out swinging. Khyshwaunna Nance drew another walk to load the bases with two outs, but Lenoir-Rhyne starting pitcher Maryann Hoskins struck out Taylor Jezuit swinging to end the inning.

The Bears would score eight runs on eight hits, as starting pitcher Annie Truelove would allow all eight hits and let up five earned runs in four innings pitched. She also struck out five and walked three. Hoskins pitched a one-hitter, striking out eight in five innings of work.

In game two, the Lakers' bats came alive, as Mercyhurst recorded 13 hits. Kayla Larson and Taylor Jezuit each produced three, while Rachel DiBartolomeo hit an inside the park homerun.

DiBartolomeo led off the game with the inside the park homerun, her first as a Laker, to give Mercyhurst an early 1-0 lead.

With one out in the bottom of the third, Larson would smack a double to right center. Nance's ground ball to third on the next at bat would advance Larson to third, setting up Jezuit's first RBI of the game. Her single to right field scored Larson, giving Mercyhurst a 2-0 advantage at the end of three.

Jezuit would again single to right, scoring Larson for the second time in the bottom of the fifth for a 3-0 lead.

Mercyhurst would go onto score five runs in the bottom of the sixth to put the eight run rule into effect and earn their first win of the young season. Larson's single to right center scored Yule and DiBartolomeo and advanced Malaga to third. Nance would follow with a single to right center of her own, scoring Malaga, and then, Alexandra Puckly doubled to right, clearing the bases to end the game.

Puckly would earn the win for Mercyhurst, as she pitched all six innings. She allowed four hits, struck out six, and didn't walk any Bobcat batters.

The Lakers will play another double header today with the same two teams in Hickory, N.C. Mercyhurst will face Lenoir-Rhyne at 11:00 a.m. and Lees-McRae at 1:00 p.m.