LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY – The Mount St. Joseph University softball team split its doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Transylvania University, losing Game 1, 5–4, and winning Game 2, 8–3.
GAME ONE | MSJ 4 – Transylvania 5
The Lions struck first in the top of the first when Courtney Hankenhoff singled to center field, scoring Shelby Rakosky, who had singled to right field to start the game. In the bottom half of the inning, the Pioneers plated a run, evening the score at 1–1 after one inning.
In the top of the third, the Mount took a two-run lead, making the score 3–1. Natali McGuire singled to left field with two outs, scoring Avery Wiltermood and Sydney Hughbanks, who both singled earlier in the inning. Transylvania answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, tying the game at 3–3.
The Lions regained the lead in the top of the fourth when Avery Wiltermood singled to center field with two outs, scoring Skylar Fletcher, who had singled to start the inning. The Pioneers tied the game again at 4–4 in the bottom of the fifth.
The Mount threatened in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded but could not convert. In the bottom of the seventh, Transylvania hit a walk-off home run, handing the Lions a 5–4 loss.
Shelby Rakosky and Skylar Fletcher both went 2-for-4. Avery Wiltermood and Courtney Hankenhoff each went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Natali McGuire added two RBIs. Clare Lopeman pitched four innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out four, earning a no-decision.
GAME TWO | MSJ 8 – Transylvania 3
In Game 2, Transylvania scored in the bottom of the first to take an early 1–0 lead. In the top of the second, Alayna Flynn singled to the pitcher, scoring Kayla Bain, who had singled earlier, tying the game at 1–1. In the top of the third, the Mount took the lead on an RBI groundout by Kayla Bain, making it 2–1.
There was no further scoring until the bottom of the fifth, when the Pioneers tied the game at 2–2. Entering the top of the seventh tied, the Lions exploded for six runs to take an 8–2 lead.
Mackinley Lawson doubled to left field, scoring Avery Wiltermood, who had led off the inning with a double, giving the Mount a 3–2 lead. Kaitlyn Randle then doubled down the right-field line, scoring Sydney Hughbanks, who had walked, and Lawson, extending the lead to 5–2.
The next batter, Skylar Fletcher, singled to center field, scoring Kayla Bain, who had singled earlier in the inning. Alayna Flynn reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Calli Fletcher, and Shelby Rakosky hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Skylar Fletcher to give the Lions an 8–2 lead.
Transylvania added a run in the bottom of the seventh, but the Mount secured the 8–3 victory.
Avery Wiltermood went 2-for-5 with a double, while Sydney Hughbanks went 2-for-3 with a walk. Kayla Bain and Alayna Flynn both went 2-for-4 with RBIs. Kaitlyn Randle had a two-RBI double, and Mackinley Lawson added an RBI double. Mollie Sharp earned the win, pitching six innings, allowing three earned runs, and striking out three.
UP NEXT: The Lions will continue HCAC play as they host Bluffton University on Thursday, April 16. Game 1 is scheduled for 4:00 p.m., with Game 2 to follow at approximately 6:00 p.m.
