HARRISONBURG, Va. – The McDaniel College softball team opened the season on the road against Eastern Mennonite on Saturday, finishing the doubleheader with a loss and a tie.

The Green Terror (0-1-1) tied a game for the first time since game two of a doubleheader with York (PA) on Apr. 11, 2018.

Eastern Mennonite 9, McDaniel 5 (Game 1)

McDaniel jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning after RBI singles from senior Jessica Millard and junior Ryan Smith. The Royals (2-1-1) responded in the bottom half of the inning by sending eight runs across the plate. Eastern Mennonite began the scoring with a steal of home base followed by multiple two-run doubles to take a commanding 8-2 lead at the end of one.

The Royals stole home for the second time to increase their lead to seven runs in the second inning. The Green Terror plated three runs over the final five frames but it was not enough to spark a comeback on the road.

Millard finished game one with two hits in hour plate appearances, collecting two RBIs. Smith went 4-for-4 with an RBI while sophomores Ashley Shawyer and Caitlin Boden each contributed with RBI hits.

Senior Hannah Costa took the loss for the Green Terror, giving up three earned runs and nine total over six innings of work. She struck out four Royal batters and walked three, allowing no runs after the first two innings.

Eastern Mennonite 6, McDaniel 6 (Game 2)

The Royals started strong in game two, plating four runs over the first three innings. Sophomore Riley Jackson got McDaniel on the board in the fourth with an RBI single before senior Bella Sylvester tied the game with a three-run double later in the inning.

Eastern Mennonite broke the 4-4 tie in fifth after an RBI single, but McDaniel responded again to take the lead. The Green Terror scored two unearned runs after back-to-back errors by the Royals in the field, taking a 6-5 lead in the top of the sixth inning.

The Royals tied the game again in the bottom half of the sixth before the game was called due to darkness.

Sylvester led McDaniel at the plate, going 1-for-3 with three RBIs and a walk. Jackson finished game two with two hits and two runs scored while freshman Ally McBride went 2-for-3 from the dish.

McBride made her first career appearance in the circle in game two, giving up five earned runs in six innings of work. She finished the day with two strikeouts and five walks on 86 pitches.

The Green Terror travel to Baltimore on Wednesday for a non-conference doubleheader with Notre Dame (MD). First pitch is scheduled for 2 pm.