SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. - The Mount Vernon varsity softball team earned a split in its season-opening doubleheader on Saturday, falling in game one to the 4A Blessed Trinity Titans 11-2 in six innings before coming back to take down the 3A Cherokee Bluff Bears 5-2 in game two.

In game one against Blessed Trinity, the Mustangs (1-1) fell behind early and could never recover.

In the top of the first, DeAnna Berry singled home Grace Schulte to give the Titans a 1-0 lead.

After a single by JJ Barden, Amelia Bielski doubled to bring in Berry and Barden for a 3-0 advantage.

Amelia Bielski would later score on a sacrifice fly by Ansley Biggs to stake the Titans to a 4-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first, the Mustangs answered with two runs, the first coming on an error by Blessed Trinity catcher Catie Johnson to plate Kendall Slayden.

Bella Dishman, who singled and advanced to third in the inning, came home on a balk called on Titan pitcher Sydney Lancaster to cut the deficit to 4-2.

The Titans roared back, scoring seven unanswered runs to take the win.

Schulte tripled home Johnson in the second for a 5-2 lead.

In the third frame, Biggs doubled in Barden for a 6-2 advantage.

In the fourth, Schulte grabbed another RBI with a sacrifice bunt to bring home MJ Camerieri to give the Titans a 7-2 cushion.

Blessed Trinity added two more runs in the fifth and sixth innings to bring the run-rule into effect.

Lancaster (1-0) picked up the win for the Titans, tossing six innings, allowing five hits with seven strikeouts and just two walks.

Slayden took the loss for Mount Vernon, giving up 11 hits, 11 runs, nine of which were earned, with three walks and one strikeout.

In the second game against Cherokee Bluff, the Mustangs fired on all cylinders.

After two scoreless innings, Mount Vernon took the lead with three runs in the third frame.

After loading the bases, Jane Holliday coaxed a walk that scored Savannah Messner for 1-0 lead.

Back-to-back RBI singles from Sophia Wise and Karley Crimm allowed MC Springer and Jane Holiday to score for a 3-0 lead.

The Mustangs took a 4-0 advantage in the fourth when Messner, who tripled earlier in the inning, came home on a squeeze bunt single by Slayden.

Mount Vernon's final run of the contest came in the fifth when Carson Watson scored on a throwing error by the Bears' infield.

Cherokee Bluff added two runs in the seventh, one coming on an RBI single by Kasey Smith that plated Kristina Schwab.

Slayden (1-1) picked up the win in the circle for the Mustangs.

The freshman tossed six innings, allowing two runs with five strikeouts and just two walks.

Kasey Smith was tabbed with the loss for Cherokee Bluff.

In the middle game of the day, Blessed Trinity defeated Cherokee Bluff 4-1.

The Mustangs return to the diamond quickly, hosting 4A St. Pius on Monday, August 13 at the Glenn Campus Softball Field.

First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

The Mount Vernon Athletic Department strives to build the student-athlete by providing a five-star experience built on community, relentlessness, innovation, hospitality and professionalism. As a school of inquiry, innovation and impact grounded in Christian values, we prepare all students to be college-ready, globally competitive, and engaged citizen leaders. For more information on Mount Vernon athletics, visit Click Here and follow @MV_Athletics on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news on the Mustangs.

BOX SCORES:

BLESSED TRINITY 11, MOUNT VERNON 2

BT 411-122 -- 11-10-2
MV 200-000 -- 2-5-3

WP: Sydney Lancaster (1-0). LP: Kendall Slayden (0-1)

2B: BT - Grace Schulte, Amelia Bielski, Ansley Biggs.

3B: BT - Schulte.


MOUNT VERNON 5, CHEROKEE BLUFF 2

MV 003-110-0 -- 5-10-1
CB 000-000-2 -- 2-7-2

WP: Kendall Slayden (1-1). LP: Kasey Smith

2B: CB - Kristina Schwab.

3B: MV - Savannah Messner.

Records: Mount Vernon 1-1; Cherokee Bluff 0-2.

Next: St. Pius at Mount Vernon, 5:30 p.m., Monday.