ROSEMONT, Ill. – Sophomore Shawna Butler (Ely, Minn./Ely) went 2-for-3 at the plate and scored the game-winning RBI in the second matchup of Wednesday's double-header at The Stadium at The Parkway Bank Sports Complex, leading the Mount Mary University softball team to its second win of the season. Despite falling 3-0 in the first matchup, the Blue Angels rallied to defeat the host Stars, 5-4, in game two.
The double-header split improved Mount Mary's overall record to 2-15 overall, while Dominican moved to 6-6. Wednesday's game two effort was also historically significant for MMU, as the victory was its first-ever over the Stars in the teams' 12 matchups dating back to 2010.
GAME 1 – DOMINICAN 3, MMU 0
Opposing pitchers were keyed in early and often in the opening game, as both offenses combined for a meager nine hits.
Sophomore Brianna Ecker (Fond du Lac, Wis./Stockbridge) broke through with the game's first hit in the second inning, freshman Brianna Lupa (Plano, Ill./Plano) added MMU's second single in the fourth, and junior Taylor Hienbuecher (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) added a single in the fifth but the Blue Angels just couldn't string together an offensive threat.
Dominican, meanwhile, put forth a two-out rally with a walk and a two-RBI single in the fifth. The Stars added another run in the sixth off an MMU error, pushing the lead to 3-0.
Ecker tallied her second single of the game in the top of the seventh, but it was not enough as MMU was shutout for the fifth time this season.
Despite taking her eighth loss of the season in the circle, Lupa gave up just five hits and one earned run in six innings of work. She struck out four and walked four in her ninth complete game of the year.
GAME 2: MMU 5, DOMINICAN 4
Butler's 2-for-3 performance at the plate marked just her second and third hits of the season, but it was her seventh-inning RBI (and second of the game) that proved the difference-maker as the Blue Angels held on for a gutsy 5-4 victory over the Stars in the nightcap.
Freshman Sam Allen (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows), who saw a 13-game hit streak snapped after an 0-for-3 showing in game one, immediately started a new streak with a single in her first at-bat in game two. Sophomore Kaitlyn Gilpin (Lyons, Ill./Lyons Township) added a single in the top of the second, and after a Hienbuecher walk, both advanced via passed ball. Butler then stepped in and broke open the scoring with a single to left, scoring Gilpin from third, and Junior Aislinn Strusz (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) scored Hienbuecher on a groundout to put the Blue Angels up 2-0 early.
Ecker also continued her strong showing at the plate with another single up the middle in the third, but solid defense helped Gilpin took her no-hit bid from the circle into the fourth, where it was finally broken up with a single by the Stars leadoff batter. After a hit-by-pitch and a wild pitch, a single and Mount Mary error would tie the game at 2-2 after four innings.
Following a prompt leadoff triple response from Allen, freshman Marissa Heraly (Brillion, Wis./Brillion) reached base and stole second. A walk issued to Ecker loaded the bases, setting up a clutch single by Hienbuecher to score Allen and retake the lead.
Junior Jacklyn Mozdzen (Wautoma, Wis./Wautoma) recorded her first hit of the 2021 season with a sixth inning leadoff single up the middle and after Strusz was hit, both advanced on a passed ball. The Dominican infield misplayed a ball put in play by Allen, enough to score Mozdzen from third and put the Blue Angels up 4-2.
After cruising for much of the game, Gilpin hit some rocky rapids in the sixth, giving up a single and a walk with one out. Lupa stepped into the circle and issued a swift groundout, but a pinch-hit single the opposite way would be deep enough to score the pair on base as the Stars would not go down without a fight, tying the game at 4-4 after six.
Two quick groundouts looked like momentum was starting to swing back to the home team before Hienbuecher earned a walk, then advanced on yet another passed ball. That's when Butler stepped into the box and tucked a perfectly placed single into right-center, scoring Hienbuecher from second as the Blue Angels retook the lead.
A two-out single kept the door open for the Stars, but Lupa slammed it shut with a huge strikeout, handing Mount Mary its second win of the season.
Lupa earned the winning decision in game two, improving to 2-8 overall. However, Gilpin struck out three batters–tying a season-best–and walked just two, giving up just four hits over 5.1 innings of work. Lupa faced the final eight batters, giving up a pair of hits and the all-important strikeout to secure the win.
ON DECK FOR MMU
The Blue Angels will travel to the University of Chicago Saturday for a scheduled triangular with Central College (Iowa). MMU and the host Maroons will kick off the day at 11:00 a.m., followed by the Blue Angels and Central at 1:15 p.m. No fans are permitted at UChicago home games, so check out the action via links on the softball schedule page.
