Lady Cougars Split MCC Doubleheader with Goshen


	Lady Cougar Softball Recap Lady Cougars Split MCC Doubleheader with Goshen written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director Game #1 Boxscore \| Game #2 Boxscore MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (4-14-2012) - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University women's fastpitch softball team split a Mid-Central College Conference doubleheader with Goshen (Ind.) College on Saturday afternoon as the Lady Cougars dropped the first game 5-4 and then bounced back for a 3-2 win in the nightcap in action at Cougar Field. The first game went back and forth with both teams scoring a run in the first inning. The visiting Maple Leafs (14-23, 4-12 MCC) manufactured a run in the top of the first inning when Melanie Meyer singled through the right side and then stole two bases before coming around to score on a single by Melissa Hershberger. MVNU (8-21, 1-11 MCC) responded in the bottom of the first inning when senior outfielder MacKenzie Shaw led off with a single to leftfield, moved to second on a stolen base, advanced to third on a ground out to the right side, and came around to score on an RBI single with two outs by freshman outfielder Morgan Wade *(left)* to knot the score at 1-1. After Goshen regained the lead 2-1 on a run-scoring triple by Meyer in the top of the third inning, the Lady Cougars again tied the score at 2-2 on a two-out RBI single by junior catcher Kayleigh Williams. Then, in the top of the fifth inning, the Maple Leafs got run-scoring singles from Christine Stubblefield and Jana Beitler and took advantage of an MVNU error to plate three runs and go on top 5-2. The Lady Cougars tried to rally as they scored one run in both the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings to pull within 5-4, but MVNU left the potential tying and winning runs on base when the final out was made. Williams and junior second baseman Brittney Kuhn each drove in a run for the Lady Cougars to pull them within one run. Senior right-hander Meagan Stott (1-5) suffered the loss for MVNU as she allowed 11 hits, one walk, and five runs with one strikeout. Sophomore right-hander Ashley Riffell tossed the final two scoreless innings and retired all six batters she faced in a row with two coming on strikeouts. Meanwhile, Grace Ispas (5-5) earned the win for the Maple Leafs as she scattered seven hits, three walks, and four runs over seven innings with five strikeouts. Williams paced the Lady Cougars' offense by going 2-for-3 with two RBI. For Goshen, Meyer, Hershberger, Beitler, and Kat Berg each collected two hits apiece in the game. In the second game, the Maple Leafs again jumped out to an early lead as Goshen pushed across two runs in the top of the first inning as Berg had a two-out, two-run triple after MVNU had committed two errors to extend the inning. The score remained 2-0 in favor of the Maple Leafs until the bottom of the third inning when the Lady Cougars took advantage of three walks to push across a run to pull within 2-1 on a single by freshman catcher Morgan Wade. Then, in the bottom of the fifth inning, Wade had another RBI single and a second run came around to score on a wild pitch as MVNU took its first lead of the game and then held on for the 3-2 victory. Riffell (3-9) earned the win on the mound for the Lady Cougars as she scattered five hits and one walk over seven innings with two strikeouts. Maria Koshmider (3-9) took the loss for Goshen as she gave up four hits, six walks, and three runs over five innings with three strikeouts. Grace Ispas tossed the final inning and retired all three batters she faced. Wade led the MVNU offense attack by going 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Berg was 2-for-3 for Goshen with two RBI. The Lady Cougars will return to action on Thursday when they will host Grace (Ind.) College in another MCC doubleheader that will start at 3 p.m.

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