Cincinnati, Ohio—Following a 17 game road stand, the Mount St. Joseph University Softball program hosted its first home doubleheader. Carrying a (12-5) record into the series, the Lions would play Wooster College who entered with an (8-6) record. The Lions would dominate the first game of the doubleheader and win in close fashion to wrap up the evening of Softball.
Game One: MSJ 10 WC 2
Starting on the mound for the Lions was Kamryn McCool, who would surrender a leadoff single before retiring the side. In the home half of the first inning, the Mount would strike for six runs. Starting with leadoff hitter, Ali Lang would single into left field and advance to scoring position on a passed ball. Kelsi Stevenson would take advantage of the opportunity, driving a ball into left-centerfield that would turn into an RBI double and the first score of the game. That would bring Macy Cornelius to the plate, Cornelius would reach base on a close play, to put runners at first and second. A fly ball to right field would move the pair of runners into scoring position. Sara Kardos would come to the plate with one out, while she grounded out to shortstop, it would score Stevenson from third. Now entering the bottom third of the lineup, Maddie Kennedy would collect her first hit and RBI of the game. An RBI double off of the bat of Kaci Finchum would propel the Lions ahead 5-0. The final run of the long first inning came off of an RBI walk, Stevenson would make her second plate appearance of the inning with the bases loaded and walking in the final run of the inning.
The Fighting Scots of Wooster College would attempt to overcome the early game deficit, plating two runs in the top of the second inning. The next action in the game would come at the bottom of the third. Ali Lang would help score a run, hitting the ball up the middle that the Scots pitcher could not field cleanly. Alyssa Whitmer, would score from second on the same play to bring the score to 7-2.
Following the quickest half-inning of the day, the Lions would plate two more runs. The red-hot bat of Rachel Gabbard smashed a home run into deep left-center, scoring two runs. McCool would finish her masterful start in the top of the fifth inning, striking out two batters and getting the third to fly out to left field. Needing only one more run to win, via run-rule Emily McDonald would double, get moved to third on a Lang sacrifice bunt, and scored on a fly out to right field, ending the game.
Several Lions would turn in great performances from the box. Stevenson showed out in her first home game as a Lion. She would record a game-high three RBI's on a one-for-two day at the plate. Gabbard would finish with a home run and two RBIs. Kennedy, Finchum, Kardos and Elizabeth Ivers would each record one RBI. The leadoff hitter, Lang would record two hits in three at-bats and score one run.
On the mound, McCool would earn her seventh win of the season, pitching five innings surrendering only three hits and two earned runs while striking six batters.
Game Two: MSJ 5 WC 3
The second game of the doubleheader would be a much closer battle between the two teams. The Scots would strike first in the opening inning, leaving the Lions trailing 1-0. Wooster would add two runs in the top of the second to jump ahead 3-0. In the bottom of the second Finchum would hit a two-run home run and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Stevenson would tie the game at 3-3.
After surrendering three runs to start the game, Casey Kemp would find her footing and not allow another run the remainder of the game, allowing the bats of the Lions to provide two insurance runs. The go-ahead run would cross the plate in the bottom of the third when Maddie Kennedy singled down the right-field line to score Kardos.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Lions would add their fifth and final run of the game when Cornelius dropped a bunt down the third-base line that would score Lang from third. Now leading the game 5-3, both teams would be held scoreless the remainder of the game, to sweep the doubleheader.
The third basemen, Finchum would finish the game with two RBIs after hitting her first home run of the season. Stevenson, Cornelius, and Kennedy would each record one RBI. Kemp would earn her seventh win of the season, pitching six innings, allowing one earned run, and striking out three batters. McCool would enter the game in relief in the top of the seventh, striking out two of the three batters that she faced in her three up-three down effort to earn her first save of the season.
Following this doubleheader the Lions improved their season record to (14-5) on the season. The program will return to action on Wednesday, April 30 when they travel to Springfield, Ohio to take on Wittenberg University. Game one of the doubleheader will start at 3:30 PM and game two is scheduled to start at 5:30 PM. For continued coverage of this upcoming game and all other MSJ Athletics, continue to follow msjlions.com
