Nixa softball kicked off the 2023 season with two road contests against Kickapoo and Bolivar. 

The Eagles dropped a tightly-contested game to Kickapoo in the season-opener on Aug. 25, 4-3. Then, they responded in a dominating fashion vs. Bolivar five days later and mercy-ruled the Liberators 16-1.

Against Kickapoo, Nixa tallied five hits and jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the opening inning with a two-run homer from Bri Chilton.

Kickapoo scored its first run in the bottom of the third and made it a 2-1 game.

In the fourth, Sara Sweaney kicked off the inning with a single to center, and freshman Jordan Phillips tallied her first Nixa RBI with a double to right, extending Nixa's lead to 3-1. That would be the Eagles final run of the game, though.

The Chiefs scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game and added a run in the fifth for the game's final score.

Nixa threatened in the final inning, as the Eagles loaded the bases with one out but could not capitalize and fell to the Chiefs 4-3.

Paige Garetson started in the circle for the Eagles and threw four innings, allowing five hits and three runs in a no-decision effort.

Chilton relived Garetson and tossed two innings, and allowed two hits.

Click here for the box score.

The Eagles hit the road again on Aug. 30 to face Bolivar and erupted for 19 hits, three of which were home runs, propelling Nixa to a 16-1 victory.

Everyone in the Nixa lineup tallied a hit in the game, including multi-hit performances from Bri Chilton (4), Rylee Harper (3), Sara Sweaney (2), Jordan Phillips (2), Jayln Mabe (2), and Abby Weitzel (2).

Nixa scored four runs a piece in the first three innings, jumping out to a commanding 12-1 lead. 

Sweaney hit a two-run homer in the first inning. Phillips tallied her first career home run in a Nixa uniform in the second inning on a two-run line drive shot over the center field fence, giving Nixa a 7-1 lead. Mabe followed Phillips and made it back-to-back home runs for the Eagles with a solo shot over the left-field fence. 

From there, Nixa was on cruise control for the rest of the game and scored a run in the fourth and three in the fifth.

Chilton earned the start in the circle and threw four innings, allowing four hits and one run while striking out four in the win. Offensively, she was perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs.

The victory marked the first of the season for the Eagles (1-1), and up next for Nixa is the home-opener against Oklahoma's Perry High School.

Click here for the box score.