Miller hits 3 homeruns in Lions Home Opener

On Saturday April 13^th, the Mount St. Joseph Softball team hosted the Manchester Spartans for their first home game of the season. In game one of the Afternoon, the Lions would trail by a pair of runs with two outs in the final inning. Lauryn Miller would then step into the box for the first time of the day and blast a 2-run homerun to force extras where the Lions would later fall to the Spartans 10-4. In game two, the Lions offense would explode for 9 runs and 12 hits which would lift them to a 9-5 victory.
 
GAME ONE: Manchester 10 – MSJ 4
 
The first game of the series between these two evenly matched teams was a pitching dual early on. The Mount would find a way to crack the scoreboard first in the series after a single and a sac bunt to move the runner into scoring position. With two outs Emily McDonald would put the ball in play to the left side as the Shortstop tried to make a tough play and threw the ball away for the Lions to score their first run.
 
Manchester would fight back into the ballgame scoring the tying run in the top of the third off of a double. The Spartans then would throw the next punch after three straight scoreless innings scoring two in the top of the 6^th taking a 3-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 7^th. After two quick outs for the Lions, they would once again put pressure on the basepath as Avery Wiltermood found herself on first base after another throwing error by the shortstop. Miller then stepped into the box after coming into pitch for Casey Kemp. Miller would blast her second homerun of the season with two strikes over the right field wall and force the game into extra innings.
 
In the top half of the 8^th inning, the Spartans took control after scoring 7 runs. Which would help them defeat the Lions 10-4.
 
GAME TWO: Manchester 5 – MSJ 9
 
In the second game of the afternoon, the hot bats from the end of game one for the Lions would carry over. Courtney Keller would start in the circle for the Lions setting down the Spartans in 1-2-3 fashion. After a leadoff single and a stolen base by Macy Cornelius the red-hot Lauryn Miller stepped back up to the place. Like she did in game one, Miller sent a shot to deep center field that cleared the wall giving the Lions a 2-0 advantage. Manchester did not shy away in this ballgame scoring two in the top of the second to tie the game. The Lions then saw themselves going 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 3^rd inning until Miller once again would homer to right center field clearing the scoreboard at the MSJ Softball Complex. That would then spark a rally for the Mount as they hit back-to-back singling tallying an insurance run giving them a 4-2 lead.
 
Once again, the Spartans stuck with three runs in the bottom half of the 4^th inning to take a 5-4 lead.
 
More two out magic occurred in the bottom of the 4^th. With a runner on first and second, Sydney Hughbanks doubled to right center as the ball found itself against the ball scoring both runner and giving the lions a 6-5 lead. Following a pair of walks with the bases loaded, Lily Kapala would pinch hit and single through the right side scoring the Mount's 7^th run of the game. The Lions pitching staff were lock down the Spartans the final three innings securing them their first home victory of the season with a 9-5 win.
 
The Lions would use three different pitchers in the circle to dominate the Spartans. Post the start from Keller, Hailey Johnson would enter in the 4^th inning to earn her first win of the season and finally Miller closed out the game going the final three innings earning her first save of the season as well. Lauryn Miller, Kaci Finchum, and Maddie Kennedy would all go for two hits in the ballgame combining for 6 RBI's.
 
UP NEXT: The Lions will be back in action on Sunday April 14^th as they travel to Transylvania University for a big time HCAC double-header! First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM