MILWAUKEE – The Mount Mary University softball team swept the Milwaukee School of Engineering Raiders (25-11) today as they push their new single seasons win record even further. The Blue Angels (12-18) not only set the new bar for wins, but broke the Raiders streak of 11 straight wins over MMU on a day where the new MSOE President threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Starting pitcher Adrianna Nester (Fr./Anaheim, Calif.) went the first 2.0 innings without surrendering a hit and gave MMU an opportunity to get their offense going first.
Following a quick double-play to start the top half of the third inning, Amelia Flint (Jr./Whitefish Bay, Wis.) launched her third homerun of the season giving the Blue Angels the 1-0 lead.
The Raiders then took back the lead in the fourth inning when back-to-back RBI-singles made things 2-1. A double in the fifth inning by Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference leading hitter, Emily Snow pushed things further in the Raiders favor making things 3-1.
In the sixth inning, the Blue Angels received a jolt from their offense as the lineup batted around and scored six runs off seven hits and one Raider error: the Blue Angels had nine hits in the entire game. Katie Arce (Fr./Cypress, Calif.), Megan Shelly (Fr./Centralia, Wash.) and Michaela Buchholz (Fr./Germantown, Wis.) all came through with RBI-singles in the frame. Sidnee Turnage (Fr./Hesperia, Calif.) had an RBI double while Flint hit another RBI for her squad in the inning which gave MMU the 7-3 lead which they held onto through seven.
Nester went 4.0 innings in game one surrendering three hits and two earned runs. Hannah Harnsberger (Fr./Hillsboro, Ore.) came out of the bullpen with effectiveness once again, this time getting the win as she went 3.0 innings surrendering three hits and one earned run.
In game two the Blue Angels got a quick lead when they capitalized on two consecutive two-out singles that gave them a fleeting 1-0 lead. The Raiders tied thing immediately when Caitlyn Moran blasted a lead-off homerun in the bottom half of the inning.
MMU then recaptured the lead in the top of the second when Lisa George (Naches, Wash.) started off the inning with a double, the only extra-base hit in the game for the Blue Angels. Three more MMU hits, gave the Blue Angels three more runs and the 4-1 lead.
After the Raiders got one run back in the bottom of the fifth, the Blue Angels expanded things in the sixth inning when Harnsberger started the frame off with a single. The Blue Angels parlayed three more hits and one MSOE error into four additional runs.
All three Blue Angel hurlers got to pitch in game two. Harnsberger got the win moving her to 7-9 on the year. Combined, the staff pitched 7.0 innings surrendering eight hits and three earned runs.
Jordan Green (Fr./The Woodlands, Texas) led the offense going 2-of-3 from the plate and scoring one run. Arce led with a pair of RBIs in the second contest.
Today's sweep for the Blue Angels is the first time since 2012 that the team has swept an opponent from the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference: MMU swept Maranatha Baptist University in April of 2012 who was a member of the NACC until 2013.
The new school record of 12-18 will be put to the test on Friday, MMU Senior Day, when the Blue Angels will take on Maranatha Baptist University (7-22) at 3:00 pm for a doubleheader. MMU leads the season series with the Sabercats at 4-0. Live stats will be made available for those who cannot attend. Check mtmaryathletics.com for the links.
