WILMORE, KENTUCKY – The Mount St. Joseph University softball team swept its doubleheader Tuesday evening at Asbury University, winning Game 1, 11–3 (5 innings), and Game 2, 8–2.
GAME ONE | MSJ 11 – Asbury 3
The Lions came out strong, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Mackinley Lawson singled to right, scoring Shelby Rakosky, who walked to start the game. The next batter, Sydney Hughbanks, grounded out to second, bringing home Kaitlyn Randle, who had singled earlier in the inning, giving the Mount a 2–0 lead. Asbury added a run in the bottom half of the inning, making it 2–1 after one.
In the second inning, the Mount's bats stayed hot as they added four more runs. Shelby Rakosky singled, scoring Skylar Fletcher, who had walked, putting the Lions up 3–1. Avery Wiltermood followed with a single to score Alayna Flynn, extending the lead to 4–1. Kaitlyn Randle then drove in Rakosky with a sacrifice fly to first base, and Mackinley Lawson singled to left to score Wiltermood, making it 6–1.
In the top of the fourth, Lawson doubled to score Wiltermood, who had singled. Hughbanks followed with a single to center field, scoring Randle, who had walked. Natali McGuire then doubled in two runs, and Calli Fletcher singled to score McGuire. The Mount plated five runs in the inning to take an 11–1 lead. Asbury added one run in both the fourth and fifth innings, but the Lions secured the 11–3 win in five innings.
Lawson went 3-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Hughbanks went 1-for-3 with two RBIs, and McGuire went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Izzie Carroll earned her first win of the season, pitching four innings, allowing two runs, and striking out one.
GAME TWO | MSJ 8 – Asbury 2
In Game 2, the Mount scored first in the third inning when Mollie Sharp singled to left field, driving in Shelby Rakosky, who had led off the inning with a single. Asbury responded with two runs in the bottom half of the third to take a 2–1 lead.
In the fourth inning, Skylar Fletcher tripled to left-center, scoring Calli Fletcher, who had been hit by a pitch. Alayna Flynn grounded out to second, scoring Fletcher. Shelby Rakosky then homered to left-center, giving the Lions a 4–2 lead.
Mackinley Lawson led off the fifth inning with a home run to left-center. Sydney Doyle later scored on an Asbury error after entering as a pinch runner for Mollie Sharp, who had walked. Alayna Flynn singled to shortstop, scoring Sydney Hughbanks, who had reached on an error. Rakosky then reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Kayla Bain, who had singled, extending the lead to 8–2. The Mount maintained the lead and secured the 8-2 win.
Rakosky went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a home run. Lawson went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a home run, while Skylar Fletcher went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a walk, a double, and a triple. Mollie Sharp pitched four innings to earn the win, and Courtney Hankenhoff recorded a three-inning save.
UP NEXT: The Mount will travel to Hanover, Indiana, on Saturday, March 28, as they open HCAC play against the Hanover Panthers. Game 1 is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., with Game 2 to follow at approximately 3:00 p.m.
