The first game was a pitchers’ duel between MVNU’s Candace White (10-9) (left) and Kenyon’s Brittany Vanegas (3-4). White and Vanegas matched each other shutout inning for shutout inning as the game moved quickly through seven innings still scoreless with White allowing four hits and Vanegas giving up just three hits.

Then, in the top of the eighth inning, the Ladies (16-13) were able to push across the first run of the game on an RBI-single with one out by Kelly Adams to give Kenyon a 1-0 lead.

However, in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Lady Cougars answered right back when senior third baseman Karly Clay knotted the score at 1-1 with a one-out double to left center. Then, with two outs, freshman pinch hitter Jennifer Gulley came up with a clutch single down the leftfield line to plate Clay with the winning run as MVNU prevailed 2-1 with a walk-off win.

White picked up the win as she allowed just five hits, one walk, and one unearned run over eight innings with three strikeouts. Meanwhile, Vanegas took the loss for the Ladies despite allowing just five hits, one walk, and two runs (one earned) over 7.2 innings with four strikeouts.

Offensively, junior shortstop Tasha Konkle led the Lady Cougars by going 2-for-2 at the platel, while Adams collected two of Kenyon’s five hits.

In the second game, the Ladies took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a two-out, RBI-single by Dana Levy.

MVNU tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning with an unearned run thanks to an error by the Kenyon defense. Junior outfielder Leslie Banichar drove in the tying run with a one-out single to rightfield.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Ladies regained the lead with a two-out rally. After the first two batters were retired, Elizabeth Refsnyder was hit by a pitch and Brianna LaChusa drew a walk. Then, Emily Ruf reached on a fielder’s choice when a throwing error on the infield prolonged the inning and allowed the first run of the inning to score. Adams followed with an RBI-single to give Kenyon a 3-1 lead.

That lead would hold up as the Lady Cougars were unable to score the rest of the way as MVNU dropped the 3-1 decision and had to settle for the split in the twinbill.

Sophomore lefty Stephanie Burlew (1-2) took the loss for the Lady Cougars as she gave up six hits, one walk, and three runs (just one earned) over 5.2 innings. White tossed the final 1.1 innings and allowed just two hits.

Jenny Dillon (9-3) picked up the win for the Ladies as she worked all seven innings and scattered five hits and one unearned run with one strikeout.

Offensively, Konkle (right) again led MVNU as she went 2-for-3, while Adams and Levy each collected two hits apiece for Kenyon.

The Lady Cougars will return to action on Saturday when the team travels to Ursuline College for an American Mideast Conference doubleheader that will get under way at 1:00 p.m.