The first game was a pitchers’ duel between Geneva’s Ashley Archer (12-7) and senior right-hander Candace White (16-9) (left) of the Lady Cougars as neither team was able to cross the plate through the first five innings as the game moved to the top of the sixth inning still scoreless.

Then, in the top of the sixth inning, the visiting Golden Tornadoes (23-15) took a 1-0 lead on an RBI-double by Samantha Bautista with two outs. The damage could have been worse in the inning, but junior catcher Caitlin Murphy picked Amy Pearce off of third base for the second out of the inning.

Murphy also factored into the first run of the game for MVNU (18-14) when she drove in freshman outfielder MacKenzie Shaw with an RBI-double of her own in the bottom of the sixth inning to knot the score at 1-1.

Geneva answered right back in the top of the seventh inning as Kim Slater led off the inning with a single and was sacrificed to second by Archer. Michawn Rich followed with a two-run homer to put the Golden Tornadoes back on top 3-1.

With their backs against the wall, the Lady Cougars mounted a comeback with two outs. Shaw plated a run with an infield single and Clay followed with an RBI-single to centerfield to knot the score at 3-3. Then, Murphy followed with a fly ball into shallow left center that fell after a collision to allow Shaw to score the winning run as MVNU prevailed 4-3.

White notched the win as she scattered eight hits, one walk, and three runs over seven innings with five strikeouts. Meanwhile, Archer took the loss as she gave up eight hits, one walk, and four runs over 6.2 innings with six strikeouts.

Shaw, Clay (right), Murphy, and sophomore second baseman Kristin Kurelic each had two hits to pace the Lady Cougars’ offense. Rich, Pearce, and Bautista had two hits apiece for Geneva.

The second game was scoreless through two and a half innings before MVNU broke things open with four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 4-0 lead. Murphy had the big blow in the inning with a bases-loaded, three-run double, while Konkle also plated a run with a sacrifice bunt.

Not to be out-done, the Golden Tornadoes responded with five runs in the top of the fourth inning to go back on top 5-4. Allison Hartwell had the big hit in the inning with a bases-loaded three-run double, and Rich later added a two-run double of her own to give Geneva the lead.

The lead was short-lived, though, as the Lady Cougars came right back with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to regain the lead 8-5. Clay drove in the first run with an RBI-single, Shaw scored on a wild pitch, and Konkle completed the scoring in the inning with a two-run double.

MVNU tacked on four more insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to expand its lead to 12-5. Kurelic, Clay, and Gastin each had an RBI-single in the inning and the fourth run came in on a throwing error.

The Golden Tornadoes tried to make things interesting in the top of the seventh inning as Pearce doubled in a run to pull her team within 12-6. Geneva then loaded the bases with just one out. However, White came on in relief and got a pop up to second and a strikeout swinging to close out the game and extend the team’s winning streak to four straight.

Freshman right-hander Meagan Brookes started for the Lady Cougars and allowed five hits, one walk, and five runs (four earned) in 3.1 innings of work with one strikeout. Sophomore lefty Stephanie Burlew (2-2) (left) earned the win as she tossed three innings of relief and gave up two hits, two walks, and one unearned run over three innings with two strikeouts. White came on to retire the only two batters she faced and registered one strikeout.

Rebekah Wahl (7-7) started the game for the Golden Tornadoes and took the loss as she surrendered 10 hits, one walk, and eight runs over 3.2 innings with two strikeouts. Julie DiLonardo worked 1.1 innings of relief and surrendered four hits, one walk, and four runs (two earned). Ariel Lilly worked the final inning and retired the side in order as she struck out two batters.

Offensively, Shaw, Clay, Banichar, Kurelic, and senior designated player Kylie Rupert each collected two hits apiece, while Murphy and Konkle both drove in three runs apiece. Leanne Abate led Geneva with two hits, while Hartwell drove in three runs.

MVNU will close out the regular season with an American Mideast Conference doubleheader at Shawnee State University on Monday at 3:00 p.m. The Lady Cougars are currently in fourth place in the conference standings as the look to qualify for the five-team AMC Tournament. If MVNU wins one of the two games or if Shawnee State drops one of its four remaining games or if the University of Rio Grande sweeps Ohio Dominican University, then the Lady Cougars are guaranteed a spot in the AMC Tournament that starts in the middle of next week.