Softball

LISLE, Ill. - Freshman Sam Allen (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows) pushed her hit streak to 13 straight games and freshman Brianna Lupa (Plano, Ill./Plano) tied a season-best with zero earned runs-against in the circle, but the Mount Mary University softball team dropped a pair of five-inning contests, 11-0 and 15-3, at Benedictine University Thursday.

Mount Mary fell to 1-14 on the season overall, while Benedictine eclipsed the .500 mark for the first time at 9-8 overall.

GAME 1: Benedictine 11, MMU 0 (5 Innings)

Defensive miscues have plagued the Blue Angels all season and MMU tied a season high with five errors in the opening matchup, leading to all 11 of Benedictine's runs recorded as unearned.

A costly misplay on a BU sacrifice, followed by a pair of clutch hits hung a three-spot on the board in the first inning for the host Eagles. After a leadoff single, a passed ball and back-to-back fielding miscues, a Benedictine double, sac fly, single, and a stolen base quickly put Mount Mary down 9-0 after two full innings.

MMU pieced together back-to-back hits in both the third and fourth innings, beginning with an Allen single to center and a double to right by junior Aislinn Strusz (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora). A double to right center by sophomore Brianna Ecker (Fond du Lac, Wis./Stockbridge) and a single by senior Hannah Harnsberger (Hillsboro, Ore./Jesuit) put two on in the fourth, but an ensuing strikeout in both innings ended the threat.

Lupa recorded a strikeout while taking the game one loss, falling to 1-7 on the year. Despite the 11 runs scored, the defensive breakdowns led to zero of them being earned.

GAME 2: Benedictine 15, MMU 3 (5 Innings)

Five Blue Angel batters recorded a hit in game two, starting with Allen's leadoff shot to right center. The double was her sixth extra-base hit of the season, and extended her season hit streak to a team-high 13 games dating back to February 26.

Benedictine showed great patience at the plate offensively as the Eagles would complement five walks with two big hits, eventually leading to a five-run home half to jump out to another early lead.

After a quiet second inning, MMU finally got on the scoreboard with a double from Strusz that scored sophomore Shawna Butler (Ely, Minn./Ely). Ecker followed up with a single of her own to score Strusz from second to cut into the lead, 5-2, after two and a half.

Lupa and freshman Marissa Heraly (Brillion, Wis./Brillion) led off with back-to-back singles in the fourth and both were advanced via a Harnsberger sacrifice. Sophomore Kaitlyn Gilpin (Lyons, Ill./Lyons Township) then hit an RBI sac fly to add another run for MMU, which remained within striking distance, 7-3.

However, things got out of reach quickly as the Eagles posted an eight-run, five-hit, three-walk, two-error bottom of the fourth to seal the Blue Angels' fate.

A platoon of Mount Mary pitchers saw time on the rubber game two, including sophomore Jalyssa Rivera (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha North), junior Lauren Nylund (Muskego, Wis./Muskego), and Gilpin. The trio combined for 11 hits-against while MMU tied another season high with 10 free passes issued.

ON DECK FOR MMU

Mount Mary will return to action Wednesday, April 7, against Dominican University at The Stadium at the Parkway Bank Sports Complex in Rosemont, Ill. First pitch for game one is scheduled at 5 p.m.