Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 RICHMOND, INDIANA – The Mount St. Joseph University softball team split its doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at Earlham College, losing Game 1, 5–4, and winning Game 2, 7–3.
GAME ONE | MSJ 4 – Earlham 5
The Mount was quiet through the first few innings, and Earlham took a 1–0 lead in the bottom of the first before extending it to 3–0 after three innings. In the top of the fourth, the Lions tied the game at 3–3, scoring all three runs with two outs. Alayna Flynn singled to left field, scoring Natali McGuire, who had doubled to right-center. Shelby Rakosky then singled to right field, bringing in Calli Fletcher, who walked, and Skylar Fletcher, who was hit by a pitch.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Quakers added two more runs to take a 5–3 lead. The Mount battled back in the top of the seventh when Sydney Doyle doubled to left field, scoring Kennady Johnson, who pinch-ran for Courtney Hankenhoff after her leadoff double. The Lions had the tying run at second with one out but could not bring her home, falling 5–4 in Game 1.
Shelby Rakosky had a two-RBI single, Sydney Doyle added an RBI double, and Alayna Flynn went 1-for-1 with an RBI single and a walk. Natali McGuire recorded a double. Lesleigh Reimers pitched three innings in relief, allowing one hit and striking out two.
GAME TWO | MSJ 7 – Earlham 3
In Game 2, the Mount's bats came out hot, scoring four runs in the first two innings. In the top of the first, Mollie Sharp singled to center field, scoring Shelby Rakosky, who walked to lead off the game. In the top of the second, the Lions scored two runs on an Earlham throwing error during a sacrifice bunt by Alayna Flynn. Flynn later scored on a sacrifice bunt by Avery Wiltermood, extending the lead to 4–0.
The Mount added another run in the top of the fourth when Shelby Rakosky singled to right field, scoring Calli Fletcher, who had singled to lead off the inning. In the top of the fifth, the Lions added two more runs to extend their lead to 7–0. Kayla Bain doubled to center field, scoring Sydney Doyle, who walked, and Calli Fletcher followed with a single to center field, scoring Bain.
Earlham plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth but did not threaten in the sixth or seventh as the Mount went on to win 7–3.
Shelby Rakosky recorded an RBI single, Sydney Doyle went 2-for-3 with a walk, Kayla Bain added an RBI double, and Calli Fletcher went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Mollie Sharp and Avery Wiltermood also recorded RBIs. Sharp earned the complete-game win, allowing two earned runs while striking out six, improving her record to 9–5 on the season.
UP NEXT: The Lions will continue HCAC play as they host Anderson University at MSJ Softball Complex on Saturday, April 25 for Senior Day. Game 1 is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., with Game 2 to follow at approximately 3:00 p.m.
