DUNDAS, Minn. – The Mount Mary University softball team lost both games in their doubleheader against Macalester College. Both games in the two-game series ended 9-5 in favor of the Scots (2-0).
In game one, the Blue Angels started newcomer Haley Smalley (Jr./Columbus, Ind.) in the circle against the Scots. Macalester started off their season with a leadoff bunt single that resulted into a run after a subsequent steal and a double by MC's Kennedy Kechely.
The Scots added two more in the opening inning off an error from the Blue Angels during a steal attempt, then a third run crossed when MC had runners on first and third and the Scots sent the runner at first base waiting for the catcher to release their throw to delay a move to home. The play paid off, and as a result the Scots jumped ahead 3-0 after one.
After the Blue Angels were retired in order in the second, the Scots came back to the plate in the second on the attack. MC spaced out four hits as a team and also scored four earned runs as a result.
Down 7-0, the Blue Angels started to show more patience at the plate. After striking out in four of the teams first six outs, the Blue Angels opened the third inning walking three of their first four batters. With the bases loaded, senior Amelia Flint (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) smacked the first homerun of the season for MMU. The shot from Flint resulted in the Blue Angels cutting the score to 7-4.
The Scots went on to add an earned run in both the fourth and fifth innings expanding their lead 9-4. After newcomer Lauren Nylund (Fr./Muskego, Wis.) was put on with a one-out walk in the sixth, teammate Haley Jacquez (Jr./Oakley, Calif.) moved Nylund into scoring position with an infield single. Haley Johnson (Jr./Germantown, Wis.) then knocked in the Blue Angels fifth run of the game during the next at-bat with double to right field which scored Nylund.
Smalley finished her first collegiate game completing 6.0 innings pitched and surrendering nine runs, eight earned runs, off eight hits and five walks.
Jacquez finished game one going 2-of-3 from the plate with a walk and a run scored. Flint powered the offense going 1-of-4 with four RBIs.
The offense for the Blue Angels got started early in the second contest. Jacquez started the game off with a bunt single and was quickly moved to second base after a passed ball. A subsequent walk and Adrianna Nester (Jr./Anaheim, Calif.) single, the Blue Angels sent newcomer Aislinn Strusz to the plate.
The freshman cracked a hit to right field and used her quickness to hustle all the way around to third for her first collegiate triple and her first three RBIs in a Blue Angel uniform. Two batters later, another freshman, Karley Marcelina-Vega (Milwaukee, Wis.) singled home Strusz to score the Blue Angels fourth run of the inning.
Hannah Harnsberger (Jr./Hillsboro, Ore.) started the second game of the night for the Blue Angels. The Scots also began their offense with a bunt single and steal, then quickly scored the first runner when Kechely grounded out to Harnsberger to make the score 4-1.
Kechely drove home another run in the bottom of the third inning on a short fly ball just beyond the infield. Scots teammate Kaela Johnson scored MC's third run the very next at-bat with an infield single that cut the MMU lead to one.
The Scots started the bottom of the fourth inning with a leadoff triple and then tied things on a slow groundout to second base. Following the tying run scoring, the Blue Angels made a switch in the circle and sent Adrianna Nester to the mound for the remainder of the contest.
Nester escaped the inning with no further damage, then after beaning the first batter, the Blue Angels hurler retired the next batters 1-2-3.
The Blue Angels regained the lead in their turn in the fifth inning. Flint led off the inning with a walk and was then moved to second base via a sacrifice bunt by Marcelina-Vega. After a flyout, Smalley laced a single through the right side of the infield for her first collegiate RBI.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Blue Angels gave up five unearned runs off two errors. The Scots added three hits, a walk and reached via hit-by-pitch on their way to recapturing a 9-5 lead, and eventually taking the win.
Nester was dealt the loss after coming in from the bullpen. The junior pitcher gave up only three hits in 2.1 innings in the circle, and was responsible for five runs, and zero earned runs. Harnsberger went 3.2 innings giving up four earned runs off six hits and a walk.
Newcomers Strusz, Marcelina-Vega and Smalley all finished game two with multi-hit games. Strusz led the way going 2-of-4 with three RBIs and a run scored.
After tonight's doubleheader, the Blue Angels will have a few weeks to prepare for their next two-game series. MMU will travel to Rockford, Ill. to take on Beloit at the Sportscore on Fri. Mar. 1 at 3:00 pm. For news, scores and more go to MtMaryAthletics.com.