CLERMONT, FLORIDA – The Mount St. Joseph University softball team swept its day-two spring trip doubleheader, defeating Roger Williams 3-2 in Game 1 and Lasell 11-0 in Game 2.
GAME ONE | Roger Williams 2 – MSJ 3
The first four innings of the game were a tight pitching duel, with Roger Williams never threatening to score. Clare Lopeman did not give up a hit during these innings, retiring 12 of 13 batters, with the Hawks' only baserunner reaching via a walk.
The Lions threatened in the second when Kayla Bain doubled with two outs, and again in the fourth when they loaded the bases after Kaitlyn Randle singled, Sydney Hughbanks walked, and Bain singled. However, the Mount couldn't get a runner across and went into the fifth tied 0-0.
In the fifth, Roger Williams broke the tie with a two-out hit to take a 1-0 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, Alayna Flynn doubled and Shelby Rakosky walked, but they were left stranded. Lesleigh Reimers came in during the sixth inning, and the Hawks threatened with runners on second and third and nobody out. Reimers got the next three Roger Williams hitters out via a foul out, a strikeout, and a flyout, keeping their lead to one.
Mackinley Lawson hit one of her two home runs on the day to right-center field to tie the game at 1-1. The Hawks responded in the top of the seventh with a two-out hit to take a 2-1 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, the Lions' Sydney Hughbanks had a clutch two-out, two-strike hit to center field to tie the game at 2-2. Alix Streeval then crossed home plate, giving the Mount a 3-2 win via a Hawks fielding error.
Kayla Bain went 3-for-3 with a double, while Alayna Flynn also doubled. Mackinley Lawson went 2-for-4 with a home run. Clare Lopeman pitched five innings, giving up one run and striking out two, while Lesleigh Reimers pitched two innings, giving up one run and striking out three earning the win.
GAME TWO | MSJ 11 – Lasell 0
In Game 2, the Lions' offense exploded for 15 hits and cruised to an 11-0 run-rule victory. The Lions took an early 5-0 lead in the first inning, with the scoring getting started when Mackinley Lawson singled through the left side, scoring two. A few batters later, Courtney Hankenhoff singled through the right side, scoring two more runners. The Mount scored their final run of the inning off a Lasers throwing error on a Skylar Fletcher single.
The next two and a half innings were scoreless, with Courtney Hankenhoff holding Lasell to just one hit. In the fourth inning, the Lions exploded for six runs, extending their lead to 11-0. After an Avery Wiltermood single, Mackinley Lawson hit her second home run of the day over the right-center fence, making the score 7-0. Calli Fletcher added another run with a single up the middle. Skylar Fletcher drove in two more with a single to shortstop. The Mount scored their final run of the afternoon on a single to second base by Sidney Sallee. Izzie Carroll came in to pitch for the Lions, securing the 11-0 shutout run-rule win.
Shelby Rakosky went 2-for-3, Mackinley Lawson went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and four RBIs, Courtney Hankenhoff went 1-for-2 with two RBIs, and Skylar Fletcher went 3-for-3 with two RBIs.
UP NEXT: The Mount will finish its spring break trip in Clermont, Florida, with a doubleheader on Friday, March 13. Game 1 is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. vs. North Park University, with Game 2 to follow at 12:15 p.m. vs. Heidelberg University.
