N. Manchester, Ind. - The Mount St. Joseph University softball team has been on fire as of late, winning their past seven ball games. That trend would continue on Saturday as the streak moved to nine games after a dominant sweep of Manchester. With the wins the team pushed their season record to 23-8 overall and 10-2 in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic conference. Despite scoring 21 runs in the double-header, it was the pitching that was the story of the day.
Sarah Miller and
Kamryn McCool were absolutely dominant, especially Miller who was perfect in the five inning's of game one.
It was a good week off of the field as well for the Lions, as the first NCAA DIII regional rankings of 2021 were released and they were ranked third in the central region.
GAME ONE | MSJ 12 - MU 0 (Final/5 innings)
As previously stated coach Goderwis turned to her senior ace
Sarah Miller to start the game. Miller was absolutely dominant from the word go, striking out seven of the first nine Spartans she faced. When the game was over, Miller had thrown a five-inning perfect game. She faced the minimum 15 batters, striking out 10 in the game.
The offense got off to a slow start failing to score in the first two innings. The bottom of the third inning was a completely different story, the Lions would score seven runs on seven hits in the frame.
Kaci Finchum got the party started with a one-out double, she quickly scored as
Alehia Tucker drilled an RBI double. That double was another milestone swing for Tucker, as she again past Morgan Kain for a record, she is now the all-time career record holder for doubles in MSJ softball history.
The inning would continue as
Brooke Otto, and Miller delivered RBI hits. The two big swings came from freshman
Maiah Hodge who laced a 2-RBI single through the left side and
Gracie Woodyard who blasted her third home run of the season.
The Lions would go on to add three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth. All told the Lions banged out 16 hits to go along with their 12 runs, Tucker, Miller and Finchum each had three-hit games.
Elizabeth Ivers and
Maiah Hodge each chipped in a pair!
GAME TWO | MSJ 8 - MU 0 (Final/6 innings)
For game two
Kamryn McCool would enter the circle for the Lions to start the game. McCool like Miller before her was outstanding, throwing a complete-game one-hit shutout. It was her fourth shutout of the season thus far. She allowed just four base runners in the game, while continuing to strike out batters at a high rate, finishing the game with 10.
The Mount again waited for the third inning to get things going offensively.
Rachel Gabbard got it started, leading off the inning with her second homerun of the season. Two outs later Otto, Ivers, Miller and
Casey Bramble registered back-to-back hits, pushing three runs across the plate.
The four runs was more than enough for McCool, but for good measure they added a run in the fifth on a sac fly by Miller. Then they added four more in the top of the sixth inning. Woodyard led off the inning with her second homer of the day, Finchum drilled an RBI double and Miller a 2-RBI single.
McCool shut down the Spartans one last time in the bottom of 6th to secure the victory!
UP NEXT:
The Mount (23-8, 10-2 HCAC) will welcome Hanover College (11-12, 8-2 HCAC) to Cincinnati and the MSJ Softball Complex on Wednesday, May 5th.
