The Austin softball team had two brand new pitchers in the circle and both of them came through as the Packers opened their season with a sweep over Rochester Century (0-2 overall, 0-2 Big Nine) by scores of 6-4 and 13-3 in six innings under the dome at Wescott Athletic Complex Thursday.

Eighth grader Jaeda Baekert struck out five in six innings to get her first career win in the nightcap and Kennedy Bradford, a junior transfer from Kasson-Mantorville, struck out six to win the opener.

“They’re both working hard for us and they did a good job,” said Austin junior third baseman Hannah McMasters, who was two-for-two with a double and four walks on the day.

Baekert was battling some nerves in her first varsity action, but Austin head coach Al Eckmann said he believed she was ready for the big start. Baekert also received a boost when senior Adison Medgaarden made a pin-point throw from center field to throw a Century runner out at third base when Austin was leading just 5-3 for the second out of the top of the fifth.

“We pitched her in a scrimmage last week and she was really nervous. She’s been through it and she’s just a friend to everybody. She just stepped up and did it,” Eckmann said. “We did a lot of things really, really well today and that’s kind of the way our practices have been. Adi’s throw, we practice those and it was a beautiful throw to get that runner at the plate.”

Austin broke open the first game when it scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up 5-1. Avery Thompson had an RBI single and Halie Retterath had a sacrifice fly in that frame.

Austin sophomore Jordyn McCormack’s patience paid off in the second game for the Packers (2-0 overall, 2-0 Big Nine). McCormack went 0-for-4 in the first game on some hard hit outs, but in the second game she blasted three doubles and knocked in five runs.

“I was hitting in the first game, but not really getting on base,” McCormack said. “That motivated me to do better. I was just taking my time and not rushing it and I think that really helped in the second game.”

Austin sophomore Kyra Walters also had a solid day at the plate as she went three-for-four with an RBI and two walks.

“We came out strong with hitting and we wanted to hit hard without thinking about it too much,” Walters said.

Century 1 0 0  0 0 1  2  —  4  6  1

Austin 0 0 1  4 0 1  X  —  6  6  2

Austin pitching: Kennedy Bradford (W) 7 IP, 6 H, 1 BB, 4 R, 3 ER, 6 K

Austin hitting: Halie Retterath, 1-for-3, double, RBI, R; Adison Medgaarden, 1-for-3, RBI; Jordyn McCormack, 0-for-4; Hannah McMasters, 1-for-1, double, R, BB, HBP; Kyra Walters, 2-for-3; Jenna Braaten, 0-for-1, R, 2 BBs; Avery Thompson, 1-for-3, R, BB; Hannah Biwer, 0-for-2, R, BB; Emily Lau, 0-for-2, SB, BB; Elora Hughes, R, SB

Century 0 3 0  0 0 0  —   3    8  2

Austin 4 1 0  1 4 3  —  13 10  2

Austin pitching: Jaeda Bekaert (W) 6 IP, 8 H, 3 BB, 3 ER, 5 K

Austin hitting: Retterath, 1-for-1, 4 R. 3 BB; Medgaarden, 2-for-5, 2 RBIs, 2 R; McCormack, 3-for-4, 3 doubles, 5 RBIs, 3 R, 2 SB, BB; McMasters, 1-for-1, 2 R, 3 BBs, SB; Walters, 1-for-1, RBI, 2 BBs, HBP, SB; Braaten, 1-for-2, BB; Hughes, RBI, 2 BBs; Caitlin Kaercher, 0-for-2, 2 R, 2 BBs; Thompson, 1-for-4, R; Biwer, 0-for-1