Blue Angels Battle

Blue Angels Battle

CLERMONT, Fla. – The Mount Mary University softball team wrapped up their six-game stretch at the Legends Way Ballpark today. The Blue Angels (0-8) lost their first game to Loras by a final score of 11-0, then MMU lost to the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point Pointers by a score of 12-1 to close out the day.

In game one, the Loras Duhawks (11-8) received their first base runner via a leadoff error. That miscue led to the first run of the contest. The Duhawks added two more runs with a two-out RBI single from center fielder Savannah Fowler.

The Duhawks added two more runs in the top of the second inning off of three hits including a triple and a double.

Michaela Buchholz (So./Germantown, Wis.) led of the Blue Angels second with a single to the left side. Buchholz used her speed to swipe her third stolen base of the season following her hit. After starting pitcher Hannah Hansberger (So./Hillsboro, Ore.) followed that up with a single, Buchholz moved to third, but was left stranded.

The Duhawks added two more runs in the third inning off three hits, then two more runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to stretch the lead out to 11-0 after 4.5 innings played.

Senior Payton Hintz (Almond, Wis.) and sophomores Harnsberger and Buchholz paced the offense for MMU in game one going 1-of-2 respectively. Harnsberger was dealt the loss after going 5.0 innings surrendering eight earned runs off 14 hits and a pair of walks. The hurler was able to strike out three batters.

In the second game, the Pointers (11-10) jumped out in front after an eight-run opening frame. The Pointers began with a single and a sacrifice bunt for their first two batters. Five hits, two hit batters, and one Blue Angel error led to the 8-0 score after one completed inning.

MMU showed patience in the second inning as Michaela Buchholz and Payton Hintz started the frame with back-to-back walks. Timely pitching from Pointer Pitcher Ashley Cohen left the Blue Angel runners stranded with two outs.

The Blue Angels then load the bases in the third inning with no outs. An out pulled in foul territory near right field followed by an inning ending double play ended the early rally for MMU.

A pair of walks and two hits in the bottom half of the third inning led to the Pointers adding three more runs making the score 11-0 going into the fourth.

After the Pointers added one more run in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Blue Angels made a push in the top of the fifth inning. Freshman Nicole Krietemeyer (Fr./Fountain, Colo.) led off the inning with a triple, then after two pop outs, sophomore Adrianna Nester (Anaheim, Calif.) hit a clutch RBI single down the left field line to give MMU their first run of the day making the score 12-1.

Nester received the loss in the circle for the Blue Angels and sits at 0-4 on the young season. The sophomore hurler went 4.0 innings surrendering eight earned runs, off eight hits and six walks.

Krietemeyer led the offense in game two going 2-of-2 at the plate with a triple. Teammate Amelia Flint (Sr./Whitefish Bay, Wis.) helped out with a 1-of-3 performance at the dish with a double.

The Blue Angels will have the Thursday off to travel before playing in the Pioneer Invite at Grinnell College in Iowa. MMU will play a four-game round-robin against host Grinnell and Westminster. Play for the Blue Angels begins at 9:30 am CDT on Fri. Mar 30. Live links for video and stats can be found at mtmaryathletics.com.