The William Jewell softball team opened the 2017 season with a split at the UAM Eight State Classic in Bentonville, Ark. The Cardinals topped Southern Nazarene 8-1 in the opener before falling 3-2 to Northeastern State (Okla.) in the night cap. 

Game One | Jewell 8 - Southern Nazarene 1
The Cardinals opened their season quickly by drawing first blood in the top of the first inning on a RBI walk from freshman Emily Hoover, scoring Maddie Greenstreet.

Jewell was held scoreless until the fifth inning when it was again Hoover with a single to center field to score Kelsey Morgan who reached on a walk. Another freshman, Lindsay Glynn roped a single to left scoring Brooke Bernard, who doubled earlier in the inning, to bring the score to 3-0 Cardinals. 

After reaching on an error, Madi Giles came around to score on a wild pitch before Hoover, once again came to the plate and drove in runs as she blasted her first career home run to bring the score to 6-0. 

The Cardinals tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh on a Giles triple which scored Greenstreet, followed by a sacrifice fly from Bernard. 

Southern Nazarene got on the board in the bottom of the frame to bring the final score to 8-1. 

Overall, Hoover led five Cardinals with four RBI in her first collegiate games while she Greenstreet, Giles, Bernard, and Glynn all posted two hits. Sophomore Anna Biondo tossed the complete game win, allowing just five hits and striking out a career-high nine batters. 

Game Two | Jewell 2 - Northeastern State 3
In the night cap, Jewell jumped on the board early once again as Hoover singled up the middle to score Kelsey Morgan, who had walked. 

The RiverHawks tied things up at one in the top of the third inning before the Cardinals regained the lead in the bottom of the frame. Greenstreet dropped a bunt single before coming around to score on a single from Brooke Bernard.

Jewell held the lead until the sixth inning when NSU put two runners in scoring position to force a pitching change.  A wild pitch allowed the RiverHawks to score the tying run before a sac fly gave NSU the 3-2 lead.

Bernard collected two hits while Greenstreet and Glynn each posted one. Cheyenne Carpenter suffered the loss in the circle after allowing three earned runs on in five innings of work with two strikeouts. 

Jewell will continue action at the Eight State Classic tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. as they take on Washburn followed by a match up with East Central.