Gaston College makes its softball debut with home doubleheader on Saturday

Gaston College dropped a doubleheader to USC Union in its softball season-opening doubleheader Saturday at Martha Rivers Park, but head coach Michael Steuerwald labeled the team's inaugural games an experience "that we can learn and grow from."

The Rhinos lost the opener of the twin bill 14-7 and fell 20-6 in five innings in the second game.

"From an offensive standpoint, it was not a bad day considering we left a lot of people on base in some situations," Steuerwald said. "If we can clean up the defensive side and get better at that, we will give ourselves a chance to win some ballgames."

The Rhinos committed six errors in each game, and as a result gave up big innings to the Bantams. For example, USC Union scored seven runs in the first inning in game two with the aid of only three hits.

"Those were balls that were hit to people that we wanted to make plays on a day in and day out basis," Steuerwald said. "We have stressed throwing and catching from day one in August, so it was a bit disappointing that we did not do that well today."

On the plus side, several Rhinos had good games at the plate. Emily Matthews went 4-for-6 for the doubleheader and knocked in seven runs with a grand slam home run and a triple. Matthews' shot in game two cleared the fence in left-center field and temporarily trimmed a 13-0
deficit to 13-5.

Raynee Redington collected four hits in seven at-bats and scored three times. Emma Sattison added three hits on the day, and Serena Yalich went 2-for-6 with a home run and two RBIs.

An audience of about 75 people turned out for the debut, including "a couple of our 2022 signees," Steuerwald said.

McKenzie Gates and Morgan Maltba, two recent additions to the team, made appearances in the doubleheader, and Gates singled in a run in the fifth inning of game two.

The Rhinos return to action on Wednesday, February 23, with a road doubleheader at William Peace.