In the first game, MVNU (11-5, 2-2 AMC South) broke a scoreless deadlock in the top of the third inning when sophomore catcher Caitlin Murphy (left) lined a two-out triple to rightfield and later came around to score on a wild pitch to make it 1-0.

The score remained that way until the bottom of the sixth inning when Emily Fuhrmann drew a one-out walk. Lauren Ellis followed with a double to centerfield to plate Fuhrmann and knot the score at 1-1.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Lady Cougars loaded the bases with one out as junior outfielder Whitney Clark was hit by a pitch, freshman second baseman Kristin Kurelic walked, and sophomore shortstop Tasha Konkle singled. Sophomore Leslie Banichar gave MVNU a 2-1 lead with a sacrifice fly to center.

However, in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Lady Bears (10-5, 2-2 AMC South) quickly loaded the bases with no outs on a walk and two throwing errors by the Lady Cougars. That set the stage for Mandy Messer, who emptied the bases with a walk-off double to center to give Shawnee State the 3-2 victory.

Junior right-hander Candace White (5-3) suffered the loss for MVNU as she allowed three hits, two walks, and three runs (two earned) over six-plus innings with seven strikeouts.

Lori Harmon earned the victory for the Lady Bears as she scattered six hits, one walk, and two runs (one earned) over seven innings with five strikeouts.

Konkle (right) and Murphy both had two hits apiece to pace the Lady Cougars, while Shawnee State was led by Ali Keaton with a single and two walks in three plate appearances.

In the second game, MVNU managed just three hits as the Lady Cougars were blanked for only the second time this season as the Lady Bears prevailed 2-0. Kurelic reached on a two-out infield single in the top of the third inning, sophomore outfielder Lauretta Wallace had a one-out double in the top of the fourth inning, and junior first baseman Kylie Rupert had a two-out double in the top of the seventh inning. The only other MVNU base runners in the game came on back-to-back two-out walks to Banichar and Murphy in the top of the sixth inning.

Meanwhile, Shawnee State scored all the runs that it would need in the bottom of the third inning. Two walks sandwiched around a fielder’s choice loaded the bases with no outs. Following a line-out to third, Fuhrmann doubled to left center to plate two runs for a 2-0 lead that would stand up.

Senior right-hander Kristin Eyerman (6-1) took the hard-luck loss as she allowed just three hits, four walks, and two runs over six innings with four strikeouts.

Katie Daniel earned the victory for the Lady Bears as she gave up just three hits and two walks over seven innings with five strikeouts.

The Lady Cougars will look to bounce back and start a new winning streak on Thursday when MVNU will travel to Urbana University for another AMC South Division doubleheader that will start at 3:00 p.m.