CINCINNATI, Ohio - On Thursday, March 23rd your Mount St. Joseph University softball team played host to the Tigers of Wittenberg for a double header matchup. The Lions were absolutely dominant in the pair of games versus Wittenberg. The Lions exploded for 8 total home runs across the two games winning game one 12-3 via run rule and winning game two 10-4.
GAME ONE | MSJ - 12 Â Â Â WITTENBERG - 3 | WP: P. Foust (1-0) , LP: K. Ravensber (1-5)
In game one of the double header
Casey Kemp headed to the circle for the Lions. After a scoreless 1st inning the Lions got their bats ready.
Kelsi Stevenson got the Lions started with a bang crushing a home run to left field giving The Mount a 1-0 lead. The Lions weren't done yet as
Macy Cornelius singled on a bunt followed by another massive home run. This time is was
Courtney Keller hammering a ball to deep center field scoring 2 and giving the Lions an early 3-0 lead.
Wittenberg would respond with a home run of their own to start off the 2nd but were quickly silenced. Kemp shook off the home run ending the inning without allowing another run. In the bottom half of the 2nd the Lions again wasted no time getting on the board. Leading off the inning was
Elizabeth Ivers who sent another ball over the fence for the Lions extending their lead to 4-1. After recording the first out, the next 4 Lions would reach base safely with
Macy Cornelius singling through the left side for a RBI, loading the bases for
Courtney Keller. With the bases loaded, the Tigers felt they had to pitch to Keller. Keller took advantage blasting a no-doubt Grand Slam to deep left center field for her 2nd home run in as many at bats. Keller's grand slam extended the Lions lead to 9-1 with just 1 out in the 2nd. Following the grand slam
Casey Kemp would work a walk followed by another no-doubter.
Maddie Kennedy joined the party crushing a ball to deep left field scoring Kemp and giving The Mount a 11-1 lead.
In the top of the 3rd,
Lauryn Miller took the circle for the Lions. But, Miller would surrender some hits and a pair of runs before being taken out for fellow Freshman
Peri Foust. Foust was fantastic closing out the inning with a pair of strikeouts and a line out getting the Lions out of danger. The Lions were held in check in the bottom half as Foust went back to the circle for the 4th. Foust again was dominant sending down the Tigers in order bringing the Lions bats back to the plate. In the bottom of the 4th
Maddie Kennedy would get the bats going with a double to center field. After a walk from
Lilly Kapala Kaci Finchum would step to the box. Finchum crushed a ball to the left center wall for an RBI double extending The Mount's lead to 12-3.
In the top of the 5th Foust again looked sharp in the circle. Foust worked out of a jam and closed game one out for the Lions. After just 5 innings, the Lions were victorious 12-3.
GAME TWO | MSJ - 10 Â Â Â WITTENBERG - 4 | WP: C. Keller (5-3) , LP: S. Zungri (0-5)
In game two,
Courtney Keller took the circle for the Lions. After a quiet inning 1 for the Tigers the Lions bats got to the plate. Again, the Lions started the game hot from the plate. After a pair of singles from
Ali Lang and
Kelsi Stevenson,
Macy Cornelius stepped to the box. Cornelius got the scoring started with a massive home run down the left field line for her first home run of her young career giving the Lions an early 3-0 lead. But, that wasn;t it for the Lions in the inning. Following the home run,
Courtney Keller doubled to right field followed by a single from
Maddie Kennedy.
Elizabeth Ivers was up next for the Lions and delivered again. Ivers ripped a double into center field scoring a pair giving the Lions a 5-0 advantage. Finchum followed Ivers with a single down the right field line bringing in another extending the lead to 6-0.
In the top of the 2nd Keller produced another clean inning, getting the Lions bats back in the box quickly. But, the Lions were held in check in the 2nd. Keller added her 3rd scoreless inning again getting the Lions back on offense. The Lions wouldn't go down quietly in the 3rd as
Emily McDonald would get the inning started with a single and a stolen base. Lang followed with a single bringing
Kelsi Stevenson to the plate. Stevenson blasted her 2nd home run of the day to left field extending the Lions lead again, to 9-1. After a pair of outs,
Lauryn Miller came to the plate for The Mount. Miller gave the Lions life with 2 outs blasting another home run for the Lions, and the first of her career giving the Lions a 10-1 advantage.
In the 4th Keller again blanked the Tigers giving the Lions another chance at the plate. The Lions were held in check in the 4th as
Hailey Johnson came into pitch for the Lions in the top of the 5th. Johnson recorded a pair of outs but, the Tigers would get some runs back scoring 3 before
Josi Morrison would enter the game for the Lions to get the final out of the inning.
In the 5th the Lions the Lions went down in order as Morrison took the circle again for The Mount. Morrison worked a pair of scoreless innings as the Lions offense cooled down. The Lions were dominant on the day ending game two on top 10-4.
The Lions offense was outstanding in the two victories combining for 22 runs in 2 games. Keller led the way for the Lions finishing the day 3-6 with 2 home runs and 6 RBIs.
Kelsi Stevenson was also lethal from the box finishing 4-7 with 4 RBIs and a pair of home runs.
Maddie Kennedy,
Elizabeth Ivers,
Macy Cornelius and
Lauryn Miller all also homered over the 2 games for the Lions. Freshman
Peri Foust earned her first collegiate victory in game one while
Courtney Keller earned her 4th straight win in game two.
UP NEXT: Your Mount St. Joseph Lions are back in action on Tuesday, March 28th when the Lions play host to the Big Red of Denison in a double header matchup. The games are scheduled to begin at 4pm and 6pm.
