Hanover, Indiana—The Mount St. Joseph University Softball Program concluded their 2022 regular season with a road double header at Hanover College. The Lions gave their best efforts, before ultimately falling short in both games. With the two tough losses the Lions wrap-up regular season play with a (28-9) overall record (12-4) in the Heartland Conference. The Lions strong conference performance landed a second seed in the upcoming conference tournament.
Game One: HC 2 MSJ 1
The opening game of the double header was a low scoring, competitive battle. In the visitors half of the fourth inning, the Lions would plate their sole run of the game. Maddie Kennedy hit a sharp line drive to right field, eating up the right fielder, giving time for the speedy Alyssa Witmer to score from second base. Hanover quickly erased their deficit with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. Both teams would remain scoreless until the bottom of the seventh, when Hanover drove in the game winning run on a walk off hit.
In the game three Lions recorded hits. Emily McDonald finished the game one for three at the plate, with a double. The pair of Maddie Kennedy and Macy Cornelius finished the game one for three at the plate, both with singles.
Game Two: HC 9 MSJ 7
Game two, different from game one, was a high scoring affair. The Lions started the game with a three run top of the first. Cornelius drove in the first run of the game, doubling into left center field that scored Ali Lang from first base. Cornelius' double, allowed a Rachel Gabbard single to move her to third-base to set the stage for Kennedy. Kennedy roped a double into right center field that scored the pair of Cornelius and Gabbard. In the top of the second, the Lions tacked on their fourth run of the game. McDonald leadoff the inning with a double and later scored on a Hanover error.
Headed into the bottom of the third with a 4-0 lead, the Panthers plated six runs to jump ahead by two. This saw a three run response by the Lions in the top of the fourth. Gabbard came to the plate with two runners on and two outs, driving a ball out of the park for a three run home run. Hanover tied the game at 7-7, plating one run in their half of the fourth. In the bottom of the sixth, Hanover added two more runs and never looked back. Winning game two by a final score of 9-7.
On their way to amassing a seven run output, the Lions saw contributions from several hitters. Gabbard went two for four at the plate, scoring two runs and driving in three runs total. Kennedy finished with two hits, both doubles, over three at-bats, with two RBI and a walk. Cornelius recorded a double and one RBI.
With the regular season in the rear-view mirror the Lions look forward to making a deep run in the HCAC Softball Tournament. Action for the Lions will begin on Thursday, May 5 at 3 PM when the Lions play red-hot Defiance College. The Tournament will be hosted by Transylvania University, in Lexington Kentucky. For complete coverage of the Lions post-season and all other MSJ Athletics, continue to follow msjlions.com
