Peoria, IL- While a winter chill still hung very much in the air, the Mount Mary softball team opened their season on Thursday, in the indoor confines of the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria, IL.

Mount Mary split two games on the day, highlighted by a season opening win over the Prairie Fire of Knox College.

Game one saw Mount Mary pull out a thrilling comeback win over Knox, as Interim Head Coach Cody Tesch earned his first collegiate win.  Mount Mary scored 10 runs in the game's last three innings to pull away from Knox for an 11-7 win.

After the first inning, the Blue Angels trailed Knox by a 4-1 score.  MMU showed great resiliency in the game as they continually battled back offensively.

MMU pounded out 17 hits to just nine for Knox.  Jodie Penman had a stellar day hitting, going three for five with three runs batted in.  Penman struck the game's crucial blow with a three run double in the top of the 7^th. 

Amanda Nance, Alexandria Eads and Lillian Fay each had three hits for the Blue Angels as well.

Taylor Hames went the distance in the pitching circle for the win, working out of several jams to keep MMU in position to win.

In game two of the day Augustana used a five run second inning to gain a lead they would not relinquish.  The Vikings would defeat MMU by a final score of 15-1. 

Amanda Nance produced the only Blue Angel run with a bases loaded walk.

Coming off the day 1 split, Mount Mary will play twice more before wrapping up their Peoria games for 2025.  The Blue Angels will take on Loras College and the University of Wisconsin-Platteville at 8 and 10 am on Friday, February 21^st.  Stay tuned to www.mtmaryathletics.com for all coverage of Blue Angel Softball.