Pride split pair of low scoring matchups in Ambrose Dome to open 2026

DAVENPORT, Iowa - In the familiar setting of the Ambrose Dome in Davenport, Iowa, the Clarke University softball team got their 2026 season started with a pair of non-conference matchups where they earned a 2-1 win in their first game of the day against Briar Cliff University before falling 1-0 to College of Saint Mary.

Against the Chargers, it was a top of the seventh inning run for the Pride to break a 1-1 tie when Kaylie Holtam singled home Tenley Evans with two outs when the two earlier runs in the game came in the beginning stages when BCU scored in the bottom of the first before Kendall Kasput drove in CU's first run with an RBI ground out with the bases loaded.

In both games, it was the pitchers who got their seasons off strong as head coach Garland Shirley used a two-woman tandem in each game to get through the seven innings, starting with Meredith Gatto going 4.1 innings against Briar Cliff where she struck out eight and allowed just three hits and three walks before giving way to Emma Slayback who pitched 2.2 scoreless in relief to earn the win in her first game as a member of the Pride after transferring from Spoon River College.

Game two saw senior starting pitcher Payge Pyszka put up a strong start allowing just one earned run on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts in 4.2 innings in the circle before Ellie Flanagan added 2.1 hitless innings, striking out four batters in her CU debut as a Des Moines Area Community College transfer.

The Pride couldn't get on the board against the Flames despite outhitting them 7-3 including a 3-for-3 performance from Harlee Makue-Vasconcellos out of the two spot in the order as she and Holtam in game one were the only members of the Clarke lineup to have multiple hits in a game with Holtam adding another hit in game two's loss.

Clarke softball will be right back in the Ambrose Dome on Sunday, Feb. 8 when they will have a rematch against Saint Mary at 3:15 p.m. CT before facing St. Ambrose University for the weekend's finale at 5:30 p.m. CT.