VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.--The Hood College softball team (1-3) split its first two games at the Virginia Wesleyan College Beach Blast Tournament, falling to Averett University, 5-1, in the opener before bouncing back to defeat College of Mount Saint Vincent, 9-1, for the Blazers' first win of the spring.

In the opener against the Cougars, Hood scored its lone run in the top of the fifth. Alison Schuetz reached on a fielding miscue by Averett's centerfielder and advanced to second to start off the frame. Leadoff hitter Casey Dunn laid down a nice bunt up the third base line to put runners at the corners with nobody out. With Amy Hagerdon at the plate, Dunn was caught in a rundown between first and second, but was able to avoid the tag long enough for Schuetz to scamper home. Hood was unable to put any more runs on the board however as the Cougars improved to 3-7 on the spring.

Kelly Gafner collected a pair of hits, including a double, while Caity Battey struck out seven Cougars in six innings of work in the losing effort.

In game two against the Dolphins, Jennifer Rutherford scattered three hits and collected eight strikeouts as the Blazers presented head coach Terry Burdette with his first coaching victory in the blue-and-grey. Gafner, Brianna Dyckman, Katie Jenkins and Jackie Wenzel all had two hits for the Blazers. Gafner laced her first triple of the season while Dyckman and Battey each drove in a pair of runs. Defensively, Jackie Yurchak made two spectacular plays in leftfield in the first inning.

Hood has two more games slated for Saturday at the Beach Blast Tournament, weather permitting. The Blazers are scheduled to square off with Rutgers-Newark at 10 a.m. and Allegheny at 2 p.m.