Ivers hits 3 Homeruns as Lions Sweep the Ravens

Anderson, Ind. - Over the weekend, your Mount St. Joseph Softball team traveled to Anderson University to take on the Ravens. The Lions entered the matchup with a 21-9 overall record and a perfect 6-0 conference record as they sit atop the HCAC standings. Like they've done all season long, the Lions would lean on the long ball as they hit 4 home runs across the two game span. Elizabeth Ivers would be stellar as she provided two in the first contest and a third homerun in game two on a 2-run shot. The Lions would go on to take both games in the afternoon as they defeated the Ravens 11-0 in game one and 13-2 in game two.
 

GAME ONE: MSJ 11 - Anderson 0

In game number one, the Lions jumped out of the gates quickly striking in the first inning. Kelsi Stevenson earned the first hit for the Mount. After a pair of passed balls, the Mount found themselves with 2 players in scoring position with no outs. Both Macy Cornelius and Courtney Keller would ground into a fielder's choice but both putting the ball in play was enough to earn them an RBI as the Lions jumped out to a 2-0 lead. In the bottom half of the first, Casey Kemp would dominate, setting down the Lions in 1-2-3 order. In the top half of the second, Kaci Finchum got the inning started with a single up the middle and Emily McDonald singled through the left side. The Mount would find themselves still first and second with 2 outs as they found a way to get a runner in causing havoc on the base path as the Ravens would make their first error of the game giving the Lions a 3-0 advantage. For the third straight inning, the Lions would add on insurance. With one out in the inning, Casey Kemp would single up the middle allowing Elizabeth Ivers to come up with 2 outs and a runner on. Ivers would send a deep fly ball to left field as it cleared the wall to improve their lead to 5-0. Casey Kemp was stellar as she only allowed one hit through the first 5 innings of play. The Lions would put the game away in the 6th inning as they pushed across 6 runs. The inning started off with Ali Lang hitting a single to left field. Back to back doubles from Kelsi Stevenson and Macy Cornelius scored the first two runs. Following a pair of ground outs and a walk, the Lions found themselves with two on and two outs. Ivers once again would show her power as she knocked out her second home run of the game to give the Lions a 11-0 lead. With the Ravens needing four runs in the 6th, Kemp wasted no time as she once again would put the Ravens down in order as they Lions pulled out the victory. 

Casey Kemp earned her 12th win on the season going 6 innings and allowing only 1 hit with 5 strikeouts. Elizabeth Ivers led the Lions with two home runs and 5 RBI's. Macy Cornelius would also have a respectable day going 2-4 at the plate with a pair of doubles and 2 RBI's.

GAME TWO: MSJ 13 - Anderson 2

In the second game of the afternoon, the Lions would once again strike first on the scoreboard. In the second, the Lions Maddie Kennedy singled up the middle which was followed by Ivers reaching on an error to put the runners into scoring position. The bottom half of the Lions order showed out once again this season as Kaci Finchum singled to center field scoring the first Lions run of the ballgame. With two outs and bases loaded, Sara Kardos would pitch hit and deliver, scoring the runner on a fielder's choice to take a 2-0 lead after the second. After Anderson was able to put up a pair in the bottom half of the 2nd, The Lions would find a way to score 5 runs in the top of the third. The inning started with a leadoff walk which was followed by a single to make it first and second no outs. Lauryn Miller would earn her first RBI of the day with a single up the middle to make it 3-2. Ivers would then be walked to load the bases as Finchum would step up to the plate with a chance to break the game open. Finchum followed by Emily McDonald would provide the Mount with more runs as the Lions ended the inning leading 7-2. The game would be quickly put out of reach in the 4th as Ivers and Kennedy would blast a two-run home run and a pair of RBI's from Stevenson and a Sac Fly from Cornelius propelled the Lions to a 13-2 victory. 

In the circle, Courtney Keller earned her 10th win on the season as she pitched 5 innings allowing only 2 runs on 5 hits while earning 5 strikeouts. Maddie Kennedy would go 3-4 in the afternoon with a homerun which would be her 8th on the season trailing only Keller(11). 

The Lions next contest will be on Tuesday April 25th as they head on the road to Bluffton University. The double-header is scheduled to begin at 3:30PM.