STAUNTON CITY, Va. – The Methodist softball team swept Mary Baldwin in Saturday's doubleheader, 10-0 and 9-3, to improve to 8-10 on the season and 4-6 in conference play. With the losses, the Fighting Squirrels fall to 1-13 overall and 1-9 in the USA South.
Game 1 – MU 10, MBC 0 (5 INN) It didn't take Methodist long to grab a three-run lead, as
Lindsay Tippett sent a three-run home run over the left-field fence to score
Heather Williams and
Sarah Stapleton.
The Green and Gold scored again in the third, this time on back-to-back errors by Mary Baldwin. After reaching on an error by the left fielder, Stapleton scored when Williams reached on an error by the catcher. A single by the next batter, Tippett, plated Williams and the Monarchs pushed their lead to 5-0.
Singles by
Allyson Aycock and Stapleton and another error by the Fighting Squirrels loaded the bases for MU in the fifth, and a three-RBI triple by Williams scored all three runners, giving Methodist an 8-0 advantage. Tippett registered her second home run of the game, this time for two runs, and gave MU the eventual 10-0 victory.
Tippett went a perfect 3-for-3 with six RBI and two runs scored while Williams went 1-for-3 with four RBI and three scored runs and one stolen base.
Nicole Heinrich (4-3) was given the win for Methodist, pitching all 5.0 innings and allowing no runs and just three hits with five strikeouts.
Kayla Wheeler, Chrissy Comer and Jonquil Brown all went 1-for-2 for Mary Baldwin.
Olivia Compton was handed the loss, giving up 10 runs (8 ER) on 10 hits with five strikeouts.
Game 2 – MU 9, MBC 3 The Monarchs out hit the Fighting Squirrels, 10-3, in the nightcap en route to a 9-3 win.
Methodist was the first to score once again, when consecutive doubles by Tippett and
Kelsey Harrington put the score at 1-0 in the first inning.
Mary Baldwin scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the frame, taking a 3-1 lead. After two players reaching after being hit by pitches and a sacrifice bunt by Cromer, a double by Kristen Anderson scored Wheeler and a ground out by Brown plated Morgan Tulley. MBC tallied another run on an error by Methodist, allowing Anderson to score.
The Monarchs cut the deficit to one run (3-2) in the top of the second as a single by
Kirsten Markow drove
Allyson Aycock home, who singled to right center to start the frame.
The Green and Gold took back the lead in the fourth, scoring five runs for a 7-3 advantage.
Rachel Martin drove Aycock home, who sent a single to left field, and Stapleton plated
McKenna Mitchell, the pinch runner for
Christine Bowman, who had doubled two batters prior. After recording a base hit, Tippett advanced on an error by MBC's right fielder, consequently scoring all three base runners.
After
Ally Griffin drew a lead-off walk in the fifth, a double by Martin scored her, giving Methodist an 8-3 lead. MU recorded its final run in the top of the seventh, as Krista Zenter doubled down the right field line to score Aycock, who previously reached on a fielder's choice.
Tippet finished 3-for-4with four RBI and one run scored in game two, and Aycock went 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
Monica Revels (3-2) was granted the win for the Monarchs, tossing for all 7.0 innings and allowing three runs on six hits with three strikeouts.
For the Fighting Squirrels, Brown was 1-for-3 with an RBI and Anderson went 1-for-4 with an RBI.
Kate Dickinson was saddled with the loss, pitching for 4.0 innings and giving up seven runs (5 ER) and eight hits.
Methodist travels to Bridgewater, Va. for a doubleheader with Bridgewater on Sunday beginning at 12:00 p.m.
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