WAUKESHA, Wis. – The Mount Mary University softball team swept its first double-header of the season Friday evening at 5 Diamonds Complex at Infinity Fields, blasting Maranatha Baptist 18-4 and 16-3 in a pair of five-inning games.
The wins improve Mount Mary to 4-19 on the year, while MBU fell to 3-11 overall. The Blue Angels also upped their win streak against Maranatha Baptist to 25 straight games.
GAME 1 – MMU 18, Maranatha Baptist 4
Offense was abundant throughout the afternoon, but especially prevalent in the series opener as the Blue Angels racked up 14 hits and drew 14 walks. The 18 runs crossed in game one were the most scored for MMU since an 18-6 win over the Sabercats back in April 2018.
A celebration of seniors was the theme of the day and the senior group of Kirsten George (Fairborn, Ohio/Fairborn), Hannah Harnsberger (Hillsboro, Ore./Jesuit), Virginia Peterson (Milwaukee, Wis./Ronald Reagan), and Hannah Rose (Jeromesville, Ohio/Hillsdale) did not disappoint.
Harnsberger stepped into the circle and pitched an absolute gem in her second start of the season, giving up just four runs—three earned—off seven hits while striking out four. Sophomore hurler Kaitlyn Gilpin (Lyons, Ill./Lyons Township) came on in one inning of relief, adding a strikeout of her own.
Offensively, freshman Sam Allen (Rolling Meadows, Ill./Rolling Meadows) led the Blue Angels with a 4-for-4 showing at the plate, scoring two runs while batting in four runs herself. Freshman Brianna Lupa (Plano, Ill./Plano) went 2-for-2 with four runs scored and three RBI, and Harnsberger was also a perfect 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two RBI in the leadoff spot.
Junior Aislinn Strusz (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) and sophomore Brianna Ecker (Fond du Lac, Wis./Stockbridge) each went yard in game one—the former a three-run shot in the first and the latter a two-run dinger in the second inning. Allen, Harnsberger, and George all recorded doubles as eight players recorded a hit.
GAME 2 – MMU 16, Maranatha Baptist 3
Traffic continued on the basepaths in the second stanza for the hosts, as MMU capitalized on 15 walks and nine timely hits to record the victory. In total, 29 batters earned a free pass via the walk in games one and two combined.
Junior Lauren Nylund (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) earned her first victory of the season in the circle, giving up five runs—three earned—off five hits and four walks while striking out four in 3.1 innings pitched. Lupa came in on relief and struck out the final five Sabercat batters to seal the win.
Offensively, Mount Mary was led by junior Taylor Hienbuecher's (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) 2-for-2 showing that featured three runs scored and three RBI. Junior Karley Vega (Milwaukee, Wis./West Allis Central) had three RBI of her own on 2-for-3 day at the plate, including her first hit and first double of the season respectively. Ecker recorded a hit in her only official at-bat, scoring four runs off three walks and an RBI double. Sophomore Shawna Butler (Ely, Minn./Ely) recorded her first multi-hit game as her pair of singles scored three Blue Angel runs.
SENIORS CELEBRATED
Between games one and two of the double-header, 17 Blue Angel Senior Student-Athletes were celebrated with their family and friends. Participating in the festivities were softball players George, Harnsberger, Peterson, and Rose, as well as Kelsey Arango (Soccer), Zyahnesha Burnett (Basketball), Kaylie Cook (Basketball, Soccer, Golf), Mel Golo (Basketball, Soccer, Golf), Haley Johnson (Softball '20), Halee Vande Boom (Soccer), and Erica Williams (Basketball).
ON DECK FOR MMU
The Blue Angels will travel to Brandt-Quirk Park in Watertown, Wis., for Part Two of the home-and-home series against Maranatha Baptist Saturday. First pitch is slated for noon, and it will also be the Sabercats' Parents Day.
