Beloit, WI - The Mount Mary Blue Angel softball team took the field against Beloit College Tuesday on a mission, they jumped the Buccaneers with a dominating offensive attack. Mount Mary scored 20 runs in the doubleheader and 12 of those runs came in the first 2 innings. Mount Mary pounded out 28 hits as they shot out to early leads in both games, leads they would not relinquish and they swept the doubleheader to begin what will be a busy stretch of softball over the next 2 weeks.
Mount Mary took a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the second inning of game 1, Beloit would rally but the Blue Angels held strong for a 10-6 win. Crystal Peterson, Sam Allen, Aislinn Strusz and Brianna Lupa all had 2 hits or more in the first game, with Strusz knocking in 5 runs in the win. She would tally a remarkable 8 rbi in the two games of the doubleheader. In the pitching circle, Bri Lupa went the distance to pick up her 6th win of the season.
Showing no complacency whatsoever in game 2, Mount Mary again put 6 runs on the board in the first two innings. Beloit would pull as close as 6-2, but the Blue Angels would never allow them any closer, cruising to a 10-3 win in game 2. Micaela Gonzalez, Sam Allen, Lillian Fay and Aislinn Strusz had 3 hits in the 2nd game, Kylie Ann Kluck also added 2 hits. Allen also knocked in 4 runs in the Blue Angel win. Mary Defore picked up her first career pitching win, Defore went 4 innings and allowed 3 runs. Lupa returned to the circle to finish the last three innings of the win.
In addition to the strong offense and pitching, Tuesday may have been Mount Mary's best day defensively as well. The Blue Angels committed only one error throughout the entire doubleheader.
Head Coach Perry Clark was pleased with the effort and outcomes, "When both your offense and defense are simultaneously working, you should expect to have a good outcome," on the strong pitching by Lupa and Defore, "our pitching staff was hitting their locations and Mary (Defore) had her best outing of the year."
He also emphasized the contributions of the Blue Angel bench, "our bench was always ready at a moment's notice, that hasn't been the case all season."
The Blue Angels (7-14), have one day off before two straight doubleheaders against Illinois opponents having winning seasons. Mount Mary will take on Benedictine University (14-6) on Thursday, April 14th, and North Central College (11-5) on Friday, April 15th. Clark on the upcoming opponents, "We have to take these two wins into the rest of the week because Benedictine and North Central are very strong teams."
All coverage and updates can be found on mtmaryathletics.com
