MILWAUKEE – Judging by the recent play of the Mount Mary University softball team, it was only a matter of time before it finally broke through.
Saturday proved to be that day—and quite a historic one at that.
With a full team effort, the Blue Angels swept their Saturday double-header in dominating fashion, defeating Maranatha Baptist University 13-5 and 15-6 in a pair of five-inning games.
The offensive outburst marks the first time in school history the Blue Angels have posted back-to-back double-digit run output, as well as the first time they have defeated an opponent via the 8-run-lead-after-5-innings mercy rule in back-to-back contests.
Individually, seven Blue Angels recorded a hit on the day. Junior Katie Edwards (Mackinaw, Ill.) went 3-for-7 at the plate, recording a team-high eight RBI and scoring all three times she reached base. Senior Katie Wolk (Oshkosh, Wis.) went 4-for-6 with four runs scored, five RBI and earned two walks, while sophomore Nicole Weggen (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) went 4-for-7, recording a double, four runs scored, three RBI and a walk on the day.
For the first time this season, the bottom part of the MMU order was able to score runs as well. Sophomore Shandrieka Richardson (Atlanta, Ga.) had the best day in her career, going 3-for-5 at the plate with a double, four runs scored, and four RBI in the two-game slate. Freshman Harmony French tallied her second hit of the season as well in Game two, scoring a run and adding an RBI to her accolades.
Mount Mary (2-16) and Maranatha (1-10) played even through the first inning and a half, before the Angels broke open the scoring on a passed ball that scored freshman Phoenix Hulsey (Wauwatosa, Wis.) in the bottom of the second. Richardson's follow-up single to right scored freshman Tracy Boutell (Brown Deer, Wis.) and RBIs from Wolk and Weggen lifted put MMU up 4-0 after two.
Maranatha responded with a pair of runs in the top of the third to pull to within 4-2, and neither team scored in ensuing at-bats.
The Blue Angels then poured it on in the fourth and fifth innings, putting their final stamp on game one. Wolk reached on a throwing error by the third-baseman to score sophomore Michelle Argenzio (Brookfield, Wis.). Edwards' 2-RBI single to deep left field scored Weggen and Wolk, and later another Hulsey scurry home on a passed ball completed a five-run fourth inning.
The Crusaders added three of their own in the top of the fifth, but Mount Mary responded with timely hitting and patience at the plate. Weggen doubled to left to score Wolk, and a 2-RBI blast over the left field fence by Edwards was her second of the season. Finally, a loaded-bases walk issued to Richardson breached the 8-run rule, handing Mount Mary its first victory since April 27, 2012—a 4-2 victory over Trinity International University.
The Blue Angels carried its momentum fully into game two, setting two more program records in the bottom of the first inning alone. With 14 Blue Angels coming to bat in the home half of the game two opening frame, Mount Mary scored 11 runs—the first double-digit inning in school history. The Angels' 11 runs came on seven hits, three walks and one MBU error. Edwards continued her hot streak by knocking a 3-run homerun over the field in right center, while Wiech, Wolk, Weggen, French and Richardson also picked up hits in the first inning alone.
Maranatha, which had scored three runs to lead off the first, added two more in the second and another in the fifth. However, the Blue Angels posted three more runs in the second inning and another in the fourth to seal the victory, 15-6.
Both of Mount Mary's pitchers picked up their first wins of the season, Wiech in the first game and Edwards in the second. Wiech improved to 1-5 on the year, striking out one Crusader and picking up just one earned run in game one. All six runs scored in game two were earned, but Edwards tallied a season-high five strikeouts to go with just two walks while improving to 1-11 in the circle.
Mount Mary will look to extend its win streak Tuesday at Lawrence, playing a double-header at Whiting Field in Appleton. First pitch for game one against the Vikings is slated for 3:00 p.m.
