MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- GPS had a special cheering section during their Spring Fling softball opener Tuesday night -- the Bruisers' tennis team.
"And we'll try to go cheer for them tomorrow,'' GPS coach Susan Crownover said.
The cheering must have helped as GPS defeated St. Benedict, 5-0, in A Division II-AA state softball opener.
GPS (24-11) won't play again until Thursday's session. Rival and defending champion Baylor will open play in the tournament Wednesday morning against Briarcrest.
If Baylor wins, it will play GPS in the winners bracket final on Thursday at approximately 1 p.m. eastern.
Madi Stanley gave up only hits, struck out four and walked one for GPS.
"And really she struggled with her stuff,'' Crownover said. "But she beat a good team without her good stuff and that shows some strength on her part.''
Kelby Crownover was 3-for-3 with an RBI for GPS while Madison Boyd and Morgan Lane had two hits each. Boyd had three RBI with a home run.
Bailey Davenport had a triple for the Bruisers and Crownover and Katy Richardson doubled.
BOXSCORE
St. Benedict 0 (25-17-1) Girls Preparatory 5 (24-11)
Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI
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Paige Murin 3b............. 3 0 1 0 Taylor Battle cf........... 4 0 1 0
Bailey Coppedge 1b......... 3 0 1 0 Bailey Davenport 2b........ 4 2 1 0
Olivia Parsels c........... 3 0 0 0 Madison Boyd rf............ 3 1 2 3
Hanna Dennis p............. 3 0 0 0 Katy Richardson c.......... 2 0 1 0
Lizzie Ryan cf............. 3 0 0 0 Raven Broom pr............ 0 2 0 0
Kendal Pearson lf.......... 3 0 1 0 Morgan Lane 1b............. 3 0 2 0
Jennie Gerard ss........... 3 0 0 0 Kelby Crownover ss......... 3 0 3 1
Connor Knott rf............ 2 0 0 0 LeeAnn Jackson lf.......... 2 0 0 1
Michelle Farler dh......... 1 0 0 0 Stephanie George 3b........ 3 0 0 0
Morgan Patrick 2b.......... 0 0 0 0 Abbey Anderson dh.......... 3 0 1 0
Madi Stanley p............. 0 0 0 0
Totals..................... 24 0 3 0 Totals..................... 27 5 11 5
Score by Innings R H E
-----------------------------------------
St. Benedict........ 000 000 0 - 0 3 0
Girls Preparatory... 013 100 X - 5 11 0
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DP - Lady Eagles 1. LOB - Lady Eagles 4; Bruisers 6. 2B - Coppedge; Richardson;
Crownover. 3B - Davenport. HR - Boyd. SF - Jackson. SB - Davenport.
St. Benedict IP H R ER BB SO WP BK HP IBB AB BF FO GO
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Hanna Dennis L............ 6.0 11 5 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 27 29 8 9
Girls Preparatory IP H R ER BB SO WP BK HP IBB AB BF FO GO
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Madi Stanley W............ 7.0 3 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 24 25 11 6
PB - Parsels; Richardson.
Strikeouts - Ryan; Gerard 3. Walks - Farler; Richardson.