GRINNELL, Iowa – The Mount Mary University softball team lost a pair of games today at the Pioneer Invite. The host Pioneers (10-4) defeated the Blue Angels (0-10) by a score of 9-1 in game one, then the Westminster Blue Jays defeated MMU 17-0.
Haley Jacquez (So./Oakley, Calif.) led the game off for the Blue Angels with a double down the left field line. Following the sacrifice bunt by teammate Amelia Flint (Sr./Whitefish Bay, Wis.), MMU was able to score the game's first run on an RBI groundout to the shortstop by Adrianna Nester (So./Anaheim, Calif.).
The Pioneers mirrored the Blue Angels beginning in the first with a double to left field in the bottom half. The next batter hit an RBI single through the left side of the infield, then Darice Wheeler hit a two-run homerun to give host Grinnell a 3-1 lead.
Grinnell added another run in the bottom of the third inning when Wheeler towered another homerun to left field. Then the Pioneers added one more run on two consecutive two-out hits to make the score 5-1 after three innings.
The Pioneers were able to add a pair of unearned runs in the fifth inning to make it 7-1, then two more runs in the sixth to give the host an eight-run lead to end the game.
Hannah Harnsberger (So./Hillsboro, Ore.) started in the circle for game one. The second-year hurler was dealt the loss after facing 32 batters in her 5.2 innings pitched. Harnsberger surrendered six earned runs of 12 hits and a walk.
Starting catcher Haley Johnson (So./Germantown, Wis.) led the Blue Angels offense in game one going 2-of-3 from the plate.
Adrianna Nester got the start in the circle in game two against Westminster (4-11). The Blue Jays loaded the bases in the opening inning after a leadoff error and a pair of walks. With two outs, Madison Washington hit a grand slam making the score 4-0 in favor of the Blue Jays.
Westminster led off the second inning with a triple and eventually added three more runs in the frame off three hits and a Blue Angel fielding error.
After the Blue Jays stretched out the lead in the third scoring six runs off three hits and two errors, the 13-0 lead pushed things out of reach. Westminster added two runs in the fourth and fifth innings respectively making things 17-0.
Jacquez and Nester each hit 1-of-2 from the plate to lead the Blue Angels offense in the second game. Nester finished her start at pitcher in 5.0 innings and surrendered nine earned runs off nine hits and eight walks.
Tomorrow's round-robin at Grinnell College has been cancelled due to the impending inclement weather. The next game for the Blue Angels will be against Maranatha Baptist University (0-6) on Mon. Apr. 2 at Wisconsin Lutheran Field. First pitch is set for 3:00 pm. Live stats will be made available at mtmaryathletics.com.
