MELBOURNE, Florida - The Angelo State softball team opened the season with a pair of wins against Florida Tech 12-0 highlighted by Brandy Marlett's third no-hitter and capped it off with a walk-off 3-2 win over Palm Beach Atlantic.
The Rambelles (2-0) move to 14-2 all-time in season openers. ASU combined for 20 hits, three home runs, three doubles and 15 runs in the two games. The pitching staff only gave up four hits and two runs in 14 innings of work.
"We did a little bit of everything on the first day to open the season," Angelo State head softball coach Travis Scott said. "Getting a no-hit 12-0 win with three home runs and then having to scrap to get a 3-2 win in the bottom of the seventh but the main thing was we only gave up two runs. Kenedy (Urbany) and Brandy (Marlett) were both awesome. We know if we can pitch like that offensively we are going to be in good shape."
The first game of 2017 couldn't have started any better for Angelo State. Kenedy Urbany and Taegan Kirk woke up the crowd early with a pair of two-run home runs off Florida Tech's starter in the top of the first inning.
Brandy Marlett would take over the rest of the way. The junior recorded her third no-hitter of her career and takes the ASU career lead for no-hitters. She struck out nine batters in 7.0 innings pitched. She retired eight in a row and only walked three. The Henderson, Nevada induced six ground outs and five fly outs in the win.
"Brandy was effectively wild today," Scott said. "She made a really good play on a bunt to preserve the no-hitter and Bailey Wallace made a great play on a bang-bang play at first to end the game. We did what we needed to do to get the no-hitter and Kenedy and Taegan hitting home runs were huge. That is what we have been preaching is to drive the ball out of the ball park for power. We hit three today after only 22 last year is a great start."
The Rambelles offense continued to add to its lead in the third inning. Danae Bina singled to shortstop to plate Alexis Evans and Madison Greenwell brought home Courtney Barnhill on a single to right field to increase the lead to 6-0.
ASU exploded in the top of the seventh with six runs on five hits. The inning started with a double from Urbany and later scored on an error. Binae reached on a double of her own to left field. With two on a couple batters later, Kelly Johnson stepped to the plate to pinch hit. The senior hit a deep ball over the centerfield wall for a three-run home run for the final 12-0 score.
Urbany finished game one 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Barnhill scored a game-high three runs and Kirk led the team with three hits.
In game two, Palm Beach Atlantic grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the top of the first inning off Urbany. The senior responded by only allowing one hit over the next six innings.
"When we were down, Kenedy really kept us in it to give us a chance," Scott said.
The Rambelles wouldn't get on the board until the bottom of the fifth. Bina led the inning off with a double down the left field line. After two outs, Greenwell was able to hit a single down the right field line to score Bina to cut the deficit in half at 2-1.
Down to the final three outs, Angelo State started the inning off with a walk from Kirk. Bina reached on a fielder's choice and Kirk was safe at second. Karina Rocha, seeing her first collegiate action, beat out a bunt for a single to load the bases. Palm Beach was able to get the next two outs with Bailey Wallace at the plate. A passed ball brought across the tying run and Wallace followed it up with the game-winning single to score Bina from third.
Urbany picked up the win only allowed four hits and one earned run. She struck out four and only walked one.
The Rambelles
