TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - On Saturday, April 15th your Mount St. Joseph University softball team traveled to Rose-Hulman to battle with the Fightin' Engineers in a HCAC doubleheader. The Lions looked dominant in both games on Saturday. In game one
Macy Cornelius shined at the plate finishing 2-2 with a triple and a home run. In game two
Courtney Keller stole the show smashing a 2-run home run in the 5th inning breaking the single-season home run record at Mount St. Joseph University. With still 12 regular season games remaining, Keller has the opportunity to boost her number in the record book.
GAME ONE | MSJ - 8 RHIT - 0
In the top of the first, the Lions got ahead early.
Ali Lang led off the game with a single and advanced to third after a pair of sacrifices. Lang would then score on a passed ball to give the Lions a 1-0 before
Courtney Keller would draw a walk. Following the walk,
Casey Kemp doubled but couldn't get a run across. Kemp then took the circle in the bottom half and worked quickly. Kemp sent the Fightin' Engineers packing in order to get the Lions bats back to the plate in the 2nd.
In the 2nd, the Lions would break the game open.
Kaci Finchum would get the action started with a single followed by another single from
Emily McDonald.
Kelsi Stevenson would get the scoring started in the inning with a RBI single while advancing to 2nd on the throw. With a pair of runners in scoring position, a throwing error from the catcher scored Lang extending the Lions lead to 3-0. Following the error,
Macy Cornelius made Rose-Hulman pay. Cornelius loaded up and smashed a 2-run home run giving the Lions a 5-0 lead with 2 outs. Keller followed with a double and then a single from Kemp gave the Lions runners on the corners but could not add to their lead again.
Kemp followed with another productive inning in the circle keeping Rose-Hulman scoreless. In the top of the 3rd, the Lions again built on their lead.
Kaci Finchum doubled to get the 3rd started followed by a single from
Ali Lang. With runners on the corners and 2 outs,
Kelsi Stevenson did damage for The Mount. Stevenson doubled scoring Finchum and adding to the Lions lead. Cornelius would add to her impressive day with a triple, scoring a pair and extending the Lions lead 8-0.
Kemp returned to the circle in the 3rd and continued her dominance. Kemp would retire the Fightin' Engineers in order in both the 3rd and 4th as the Lions offense began to slow down. In the 5th, Kemp would walk the leadoff batter but retired the next 3 batters to give the Lions the 8-0 victory.
GAME TWO | MSJ - 9 RHIT - 2
In game two, the Lions again got ahead early.
Kelsi Stevenson got things started with a bang hammering a solo home run to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.
Courtney Keller would single but couldn't come around to score. Keller would then take the circle in game two for the Lions. Rose-Hulman would answer back however, smacking a solo home run themselves tying the score at 1. Both teams were held in check for the next 3 innings until the Lions would explode offensively in the top of the 5th.
To begin the 5th inning
Kaci Finchum doubled and advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch.
Emily McDonald followed with a double of her own scoring Finchum and giving the Lions a 2-1 lead.
Ali Lang then joined the party, doubling for the 3rd time in the inning getting the Lions a pair of runners in scoring position with nobody out. But, the Lions would record consecutive outs including a sacrifice to extend the Lions lead. But,
Courtney Keller would then make Mount St. Joseph Softball history. With a runner on 3rd Keller would hammer a pitch which soared over the wall for a 2-run home run breaking the single-season home run record at The Mount. Keller tallied her 10th home run on the season, the first time a MSJ Softball player has seen double-digit home runs in a single season giving the Lions a 5-1 lead. Following the home run,
Maddie Kennedy singled as
Lauryn Miller did damage. Miller sent a ball over the fence for a 2-run home run giving the Lions a 7-1 lead in the top of the 5th.
In the bottom half of the 5th the Fightin' Engineers would answer back scoring on a sacrifice fly cutting the Lions lead to 7-2. But, the Lions answered right back in the top of the 6th.
Emily McDonald got the inning started with a leadoff double followed by a single from
Ali Lang. Lang would then steal 2nd as McDonald stole home to give the Lions a 8-2 advantage. Cornelius would again add to her impressive day with a double, bringing 2 runners into scoring position with 1 out. Keller would fly out to right field scoring Lang from 3rd for a sacrifice fly giving the Lions a 9-2 lead. Keller followed with a pair of dominant innings to give the Lions the sweep, winning game two 9-2.
Macy Cornelius was dominant at the plate for the Lions on the day. Cornelius finished 3-5 with 4 RBIs including a double, triple and a home run.
Courtney Keller was dominant at the plate and in the circle for the Lions. Keller finished 3-5 with 3 RBIs, a double and her record-setting 10th home run. In the circle Keller went 7 innings allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits while striking out 6 batters.
UP NEXT: Your Mount St. Joseph Lions are back in action on Thursday, April 20th as the Lions travel to Westerville, Ohio to take on the Cardinals of Otterbein. The Lions are scheduled for a doubleheader with games starting at 3:30pm & 5:30pm respectively.
