WAUWATOSA, Wis. – The Mount Mary softball team finished up what was a wild week Sunday afternoon at Hart Park, dropping a pair of games to Milwaukee School of Engineering, 9-1 and 17-3.
It was the eighth game in four days for the Blue Angels, whose depth has consistently been an issue this season. And while the pitching tandem of sophomore Dani Christian (Pelican Lake, Wis.) and sophomore Katie Edwards (Mackinaw, Ill.) has shown great improvement this season, neither could get that first win of the season as they split hurling duties in the twinbill.
Christian took the loss in game one, but threw two very solid innings to begin the day strong. After stranding three Raiders on base, Edwards knocked senior Katie Wolk (Oshkosh, Wis.) home on a single through the left side in the bottom of the inning to give Mount Mary just its second lead of the season, 1-0.
MSOE would respond in the third, scoring three runs on five walks before Edwards stepped in and finished off the inning with two straight putouts. The Raiders stayed hot in the fourth, posting four more runs on three walks, a wild pitch and a 2-RBI single to put the game away. The Blue Angels tallied just two hits in the game, both coming back in that first inning.
The Raiders blasted to a 7-0 lead in game two in the first inning alone, picking up four hits, two walks and a pair of tough Blue Angel errors. MSOE went up 16-0 after the fourth before Mount Mary's offense showed signs of life. Senior Emily Barker (Oconomowoc, Wis.) led off with a double to right center and scored as Edwards reached on an error by the MSOE shortstop. Junior Nicole Ordway (Republic, Wash.) broke her hitless streak with a blooper up the right field line with just one out, but the Blue Angels would not score again until the fifth.
MSOE tacked on an insurance run in their half, before freshman Michelle Argenzio (Brookfield, Wis.) led off by reaching base on an error by the third baseman. Two quick strikeouts dampened the threat, but Barker dropped a perfect bunt single to not only move Argenzio to second, but also reach base herself. Wolk cracked a shot past the shortstop to load the bases, and Edwards came through with a clutch 2-RBI hit to centerfield. Yet it was far too little and much too late as MMC fell 17-3 in the shortened game.
Sunday was also senior day for the Blue Angels' two official seniors, Emily Barker and Ashley Leverenz (Mauston, Wis.). MMC also honored the MSOE seniors with a short presentation between games.
Mount Mary concludes its season this week, hosting Rockford College Wednesday at Hart Park before traveling downtown for a rematch with the Raiders. Game times for both double-headers are set for 3 pm and 5 pm. Friday's game will also be the Strikeout Cancer game, originally scheduled for last week. For details, check out the MSOE softball page.
