KOKOMO, INDIANA — The Mount St. Joseph University softball team ended its season after splitting elimination games in the HCAC Tournament, defeating #1 Franklin College 9-4 before falling to #5 Bluffton University 7-6.

GAME ONE | MSJ 9 – Franklin 4
In the top of the first, Avery Wiltermood hit a home run down the left-field line, giving the Lions an early 1-0 lead. The Grizzlies plated three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 lead. In the top of the third, the Mount tied the game at 3-3 after Sydney Doyle hit a two-RBI double to left-center, scoring Avery Wiltermood, who doubled, and Mackinley Lawson, who walked.

The Lions took the lead in the top of the fourth when Alayna Flynn reached on an error, allowing Calli Fletcher, who singled to lead off the inning, to score. In the top of the fifth, the Mount exploded for five runs to break the game open and take a 9-3 lead. Kayla Bain hit a two-RBI double to left-center, scoring Kennady Johnson and Alix Streeval, who both pinch ran. With two outs, Shelby Rakosky doubled to left-center, scoring Alayna Flynn, Skylar Fletcher, and Calli Fletcher. With the swing, Rakosky set a new program record for hits in a season with 71 and broke her own school record with her 47th RBI of the season. Franklin added a run in the bottom of the fifth but did not threaten in the sixth or seventh innings as the Lions went on to win 9-4.

Shelby Rakosky went 2-for-5 with a three-RBI double, Avery Wiltermood went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run, Sydney Doyle went 2-for-3 with a two-RBI double, and Kayla Bain went 2-for-4 with a two-RBI double. Lesleigh Reimers earned the win, pitching 6.2 innings while allowing only one earned run and striking out four, improving her record to 9-3 on the season.

GAME TWO | Bluffton 7 – MSJ 6
After Bluffton failed to convert following a leadoff double, the Mount took an early 1-0 lead when Mackinley Lawson singled up the middle, scoring Shelby Rakosky, who singled to start the inning. In the top of the second, the Beavers scored two runs to take a 2-1 lead. The Lions tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the second when Shelby Rakosky singled through the right side, scoring Calli Fletcher, who led off the inning with a single.

With one out in the top of the third, the teams endured a four-hour rain delay, during which the Mount left the stadium before returning. When play resumed, Bluffton took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth and added four more runs in the sixth to extend its lead to 7-2.

The Lions responded with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Alayna Flynn tripled to left-center, scoring Skylar Fletcher, who led off the inning with a walk. The next batter, Shelby Rakosky, recorded an RBI groundout to score Flynn. Mackinley Lawson then singled to right-center, scoring Avery Wiltermood, who had doubled, cutting the Beavers' lead to 7-5.

In the bottom of the seventh, Alayna Flynn singled up the middle, scoring Kayla Bain, who led off the inning with a single, to make the score 7-6. The Mount had the tying run on second and the go-ahead run on first but could not complete the comeback, falling 7-6 to end its season.

Shelby Rakosky went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, Avery Wiltermood added a double, Mackinley Lawson went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and Alayna Flynn went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a triple.

The Lions ended their season earning a share of the HCAC regular-season title with a 14-4 conference record and a 28-13 overall record.