GRANVILLE, OHIO – The Mount St. Joseph University softball team was swept by Denison University in a doubleheader Thursday evening, losing Game 1, 5–3, and Game 2, 8–3.
GAME ONE | MSJ 3 – Denison 5
The Lions threatened in the first inning with runners on first and third but could not convert. In the bottom half of the inning, the Big Red plated one run, taking an early 1–0 lead. Neither team scored over the next two innings, although the Mount threatened again in the top of the third but left runners stranded.
In the bottom of the fourth, Denison plated four runs to take a 5–0 lead. In the top of the fifth, the Lions cut into the deficit by collecting four hits in the inning. Shelby Rakosky singled to center field, plating Skylar Fletcher, who had doubled to start the inning. A few batters later, Mackinley Lawson singled to right-center, scoring Rakosky and cutting the score to 5–2.
The Mount added another run in the top of the sixth off a Denison error, making the score 5–3. After the error, the Lions had the tying runs on base and the go-ahead run at the plate but could not convert and ultimately fell, 5–3.
Shelby Rakosky went 1-for-4 with an RBI, Mackinley Lawson went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Alayna Flynn went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a double, and Skylar Fletcher also recorded a double.
GAME TWO | MSJ 3 – Denison 8
In Game 2, the Lions struck first, plating a run in the top of the first when Mollie Sharp doubled to left-center with two outs, scoring Avery Wiltermood, who had singled earlier in the inning. The Big Red responded with three runs to take a 3–1 lead after one inning of play.
In the top of the second, the Mount cut the Denison lead to 3–2 after Shelby Rakosky hit a sacrifice fly to center field. The Big Red then plated five runs in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to 8–2. In the sixth inning, Skylar Fletcher singled down the left-field line, scoring Natali McGuire, who had walked. The Lions went on to fall, 8–3.
Skylar Fletcher went 1-for-1 with two walks and an RBI, Mollie Sharp went 1-for-3 with an RBI double, and Natali McGuire went 1-for-2 with a walk.
UP NEXT: The Mount will travel to Ada, Ohio, on Saturday, March 21, to play Ohio Wesleyan at 2 p.m. and Alma College at 6 p.m. The games will be played at Ohio Northern University.
