The Culver-Stockton softball began the 2024 campaign by splitting two games in the Dordt Classic played at the American State Bank Sports Complex Dome Friday afternoon in Sioux Center, Iowa.

The Wildcats opened the day with a 9-1 victory over Doane (Neb.) behind the pitching of junior Penny Ruiz and the offensive exploits of senior transfer Aspyn Harrison.

Ruiz was stellar in the circle, allowing just two hits and one earned run in six innings of work. Ruiz struck out four and walked four and was helped out defensively with one double play.

Meanwhile, Harrison was the offensive catalyst from her leadoff position, registering four hits in five at-bats and two runs batted in. Harrison also pilfered two bases in the game.

Harrison, a transfer from Iowa Wesleyan, was the only Wildcat to record multiple hits in a game where C-SC totaled 11 hits overall. Cierra Bush wax the only Wildcat to score multiple runs in the game, crossing the plate twice overall.

In game two, Midland led 1-0 after one inning before plating six runs in the second inning to chase C-SC starter Makayla Slavik. The score stayed that way until the sixth inning when the Warriors scored seven more times to put the game out of reach.

The Wildcats were limited to just three hits in the contest with Sophia Ashby, Shelby Daniels and Ryley Pecina garnering one hit each. Pecina's safety was a two-bagger.

The Wildcats (1-1) conclude the classic portion of the weekend Saturday, Feb. 3, when they play 15th-ranked Northwestern (Iowa) at 2 p.m. and then get a re-match with Doane at 4 p.m.