GULF SHORES, Ala. - The 2023 softball season officially got underway on Friday with the University of West Georgia Wolves dropping both games of a twin bill on day one of the Gulf Shores Invitational.

The Wolves lost a 2-0 decision in the opener, falling short in a quick, defensive battle to Lander. UWG then turned around and fell in a heartbreaking 4-3, nine-inning affair after leading for much of the contest.

Game One
The 2023 season opened with an outstanding debut in the circle from freshman Katie Morris. Although the decision was spoiled by bad luck and a pair of errors the Valley, Alabama native gave up just two unearned runs on three hits in six innings while allowing one walk and striking out two. 

The offense was stifled by the work of Lander's Taylor Scott who held the Wolves to one hit over seven innings. The Wolves had just two baserunners all game long as Chandler Mevis was hit by a pitch and Madison Vandergriff had a two-out single in the fifth inning.

Lander got their runs in the second after a leadoff walk, a pair of hits and a pair of errors by the UWG defense. Morris allowed just one baserunner from the third inning on.

Game Two
In game two, West Georgia got a first inning lead as Ava Ramirez drove in the season's first run in the first inning for one of her three RBIs on the day. UWG starter Macy Ann McKnight kept the Florida Tech offense at bay, pitching around runners in scoring position in four of the first five innings.

The Wolves got runners to third in the fourth and fifth innings, but failed to cash in and Florida Tech took advantage and claimed their first lead of the day in the sixth. The Panthers got a clutch two-out single that pushed two runs across to make it a 2-1 game with six outs left for UWG's offense.

Ramirez then slugged her first home of the season with two outs in the bottom half, tying things up at 2-2.

Playing the international tie breaker in the eighth, both teams got their placed runner to third, but neither could score. Two errors and a double in the top of the ninth allowed Florida Tech to go up 4-2. Ramirez then drove in another run as her leadoff single scored R.J. Janke and cut the deficit to just one run. The Wolves then got the tying run into scoring position but could not get the clutch hit.

Ramirez was 3-for-4 with three RBIs on the afternoon while Janke and Nicole Couvertiere registered the other two UWG hits.

McKnight pitched all nine innings, tossing 147 pitches. The junior gave up seven hits and struck out eight while allowing two earned runs.

Notable Numbers
- Three freshmen, Emerson Miller, Zekylah Boyd, and Morris made their first career starts in game one, while Calli Hardison, Emma Ann Howard, and Emma Helton made their collegiate debuts off of the bench.
- Ramirez's game two home run was the second of her career. It was her fourth career multi-RBI game and the second time she has driven in three in a single game.
- Caroline Redden, Emma Nixon, and Couvertiere all made their collegiate debuts in game two.

Up Next
UWG continues the Gulf Shores Invitational tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. taking on Rollins before matching up with Spring Hill in the fourth game of the weekend.