FRANKLIN, Indiana - The Mount St. Joseph softball team was on the road on Saturday, heading to take on the Franklin Grizzlies with the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) regular season championship on the line. The Lions entered the day in a position to finish anywhere from first to fourth in the HCAC, but in control of their own destiny to win a league title. After winning game one and losing game two the Lions clinched a share of the HCAC title, but will be the #2 seed in the conference tournament in Kokomo, Indiana next weekend.
GAME ONE | MSJ 6 - Franklin 1
The Lions jumped out to an early lead in game one, scoring three times in the top of the first inning.
Shelby Rakosky led off with a basehit and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Avery Wiltermood. And out later she would score on a RBI single from Mack Lawson,
Sydney Doyle followed with a basehit and
Natali McGuire drove in two with a double.
The would add on more in the second as an RBI groundout from Rakosky drove in
Alayna Flynn.
In the circle
Clare Lopeman got the start and threw the front 3.1 innings, allowing fiv hits and on earned run.
Lesleigh Reimers pitched the final 3.2 innings allowing only a single hit to finish the game.
They would add two in the top of the seventh inning to put the game away, with Lawson and McGuire each delivering run scoring singles.
Lawson was a perfect 4-for-4 in the game, with 2 RBIs whil McGuire and Flynn each had a pair of hits.
With the win the Lions clinched at least a share of the HCAC title.
GAME TWO | Franklin 7 - MSJ 6
Once again the Lions jumped ahead early, scoring twice in the top of the first inning. With two outs, Lawson walked,
Mollie Sharp singled and Doyle reached on an error.
Kayla Bain then stepped in and delivererd a two-run single into right center to get them on the board.
Franklin answered with four in the second all coming off of the starter Sharp.
The Mount answered with one in the top of the third to draw within one. Sharp led off with a single, Doyle advanced her on a bunt, after a Bain single
Calli Fletcher lifted a sacrifice fly into center.
Franklin would score once in the bottom of the fifth inning to stretch the lead back to 5-3. The teams would each put up on in the sixth and head to the seventh with Franklin leading 6-4.
In the top of the seventh,
Skylar Fletcher drew a one-out walk, Flyn singled and Rakosky drilled an B single and Wiltermood followed with a sac fly to tie the game at six.
Franklin would get the walk off win with a two out run in the bottom of the 7th, earning the double-header split and a share of the HCAC regular season championship.
UP NEXT
The Lions will had to Kokomo, Indiana to take part in the 2026 HCAC Tournament. They will be the #2 seed and open the tournament with the winner of the #3 seed vs. #6 seed game on Thursday.
