MARYVILLE, Tenn. – Over the weekend, the Mount St. Joseph Softball team traveled on the road to Maryville Tennessee to take on Maryville College. In the first game of a doubleheader, the Lions were able to rally late to score four runs in the final three innings to earn their first victory of the season. In game number two, the Lions jumped out to an early lead but the tight contest did not fall in their favor as they would drop game number two 4-5 after a Maryville walk-off hit.
GAME ONE: MSJ 4 – Maryville 2
In game one, Junior
Casey Kemp would take the ball in the circle for the Lions. Kemp would be perfect through the first two innings allowing the Scots to zero hits and striking out 5 of the first 6 batters she faced. With the Lions trialing 1-0 heading into the top of the 5
th inning, the Scots retired the first two Lions batters as Junior
Kaci Finchum stepped up to the plate. Finchum then sent a rocket out to Left Center field which cleared the wall giving the Lions their first run of the game to tie the game at 1. The Lions bats would remain hot as a pair of runs would come across to score in the 6
th inning after another two out rally was sparked by a
Rachel Gabbard double to give the Lions a 3-1 lead. In the 7
th,
Elizabeth Ivers added some insurance for the Mount as she squared a ball up and sent it out of the park for her first homerun of the Season giving the Lions a 4-1 lead. In the bottom half of the 7
th inning, Kemp remained in the circle as she quickly set down the first two Scots. Although Maryville was able to earn a walk then a triple to push across their second run of the contest, Kemp quickly shut the door on a possible comeback earning the Lions a 4-2 victory.
Kemp provided the Lions with 7 innings in the circle allowing 2 runs on 6 hits and striking out an early season high 10 batters in route to her first win of the new season. Offensively Ivers led the Lions batting 2-3 with a solo homerun. Sophomore
Emily McDonald also went 2-3 on the day. Finchum and Gabbard added important production to the Lions offense each going 1-3 but adding 3 RBI's in the contest.
GAME TWO: MSJ 4 – Maryville 5
In game number two, Coach Goderwis handed the ball to Freshman
Courtney Keller. In the first inning the Lions jumped out of the gates quickly. Senior
Ali Lang started off with a walk as she was quickly moved over into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Sophomore
Macy Cornelius followed that up with a shot into the outfield gap for an RBI double giving the Lions an early 1-0 advantage. In the bottom of the second inning, the Scots were able to tie the game with a single through the right side after a double with one out. In the top of the third, Freshman
Courtney Keller quickly gained the lead right back with a home run to straight away Center Field for her second on the season. The Lions would then take advantage of an error then the runner moved into scoring position off of a wild pitch.
Elizabeth Ivers remained consistent with the bat as she lined a ball up the middle for another RBI giving the Lions a 3-1 advantage. For the next two innings, Keller dominated on the Mound for the Mount setting the Scots down in 1-2-3 fashion to hold the lead. Keller then started the top of the 5
th inning with a double. Sophomore
Maddie Kennedy then singled as she advanced to second on a throw that caught Keller out at the plate.
Rachel Gabbard stepped up to the plate to provide the Lions with their third consecutive hit of the inning this time driving in Kennedy to give the Lions a 4-1 lead. Although the Lions late lead, the Scots were able to push across a run in the 6
th and then end the contest in walk off fashion as they drove across three in the final inning.
Keller pitched 6.2 innings for the Lions giving up five runs and earning 3 strikeouts. Offensively Keller went 2-3 with a homerun and double. Cornelius and Ivers went 2-4 in the game each earning an RBI.
UP NEXT:
The Lions next contest will take place in Montgomery, Alabama as they will face number 14 ranked Wartburg and Huntingdon College in a double header on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the Lions first contest will begin at 10:00 AM followed by their second 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first matchup. On Sunday, first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 PM followed by
