Lady Cougars Rally to Sweep Salem International


	Lady Cougar Softball Recap Lady Cougars Rally to Sweep Salem International written by Dave Parsons, Sports Information Director Game #1 Boxscore \| Game #2 Boxscore MOUNT VERNON, Ohio (3-10-2012) - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University women's fastpitch softball team used timely hitting to sweep a non-conference softball doubleheader from Salem International (W.Va.) University on Saturday afternoon at Cougar Field. In the first game, the Lady Cougars (3-0) took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when junior pitcher Jill Wildermuth walked to lead off the frame, was sacrificed to second by junior third baseman Kelsey Berryman, and came home on an RBI single to rightfield by freshman outfielder Deanna Dill. MVNU extended its lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning when sophomore shortstop Kara Morrison lined a two-out, two-run single up the middle and then came home on an RBI double off the fence in centerfield by senior outfielder MacKenzie Shaw *(left)*. The visiting Lady Tigers (6-4) closed the gap to 4-3 in the top of the fifth inning when Salem International used four hits to plate three runs and get back in the game. The Lady Cougars tacked on two big insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning as MVNU took advantage of a dropped fly ball in center to score a pair of unearned runs. Shaw registered the only RBI of the inning when she singled through the left side of the infield as the Lady Cougars built a 6-3 cushion. Those two extra runs loomed large for MVNU in the top of the seventh inning when the first two batters reached for the Lady Tigers. Then, Hayley Wilson lined a deep fly ball to rightfield where Dill grabbed it and fired a perfect throw to third base to nail Angela McGoldrick who had tried to tag up and advance from second base to third base on the play. Cady Ficarro followed with a strikeout swinging to end the game as the Lady Cougars prevailed 6-3. Wildermuth (2-0) picked up the win as she scattered eight hits, two walks, and three runs over seven innings with one strikeout for MVNU. Lise Couturier (3-2) took the loss for Salem International as she allowed nine hits, two walks, and six runs over six innings with five strikeouts. Shaw led the Lady Cougars' offensive attack by going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Berryman added two hits, and Morrison drove in two runs, scored two runs, and made several outstanding plays at shortstop including a double play in the top of the fourth inning that she started after diving deep in the hole for a ground ball. Jessica Bias was the only Salem International player with two hits. The Lady Tigers jumped out to an early lead in the second game as they used three hits, a walk, a hit batsman, and a wild pitch to plate three runs for the early 3-0 advantage. MVNU got one of the runs back in the bottom of the first inning to make it 3-1 when Berryman lined a two-out single up the middle to score junior second baseman Brittney Kuhn from second base. The Lady Cougars pulled closer in the bottom of the third on an RBI double by senior first baseman Jenn Gulley, but Salem International answered with a run in the top of the fourth inning to remain on top 4-2. The score remained that way until the bottom of the seventh inning when with one out Shaw, Kuhn, and freshman catcher Morgan Wade each had consecutive doubles with Wade driving in two runs to knot the score at 4-4 to send the game to extra innings. The Lady Tigers appeared to have the game won in the top of the ninth inning when the first two batters reached and pitcher Katie Mangold helped her own cause by blasting a long home run to straightaway centerfield to put Salem International on top 7-4. With their backs against the wall, MVNU mounted a comeback in the bottom of the ninth inning. Wade singled in one run and Berryman plated a pair with a double to right center to tie the game again at 7-7 and send it to the tenth inning. After the Lady Tigers failed to score in the top of the tenth inning, the Lady Cougars loaded the bases with two outs as Morrison and Shaw both singled and Kuhn reached on a fielding error. Wade then ended the game with a single down the third base line as MVNU prevailed 8-7. Wade paced the Lady Cougars' offense by going 4-for-6 with four RBI, while Shaw also added four hits and scored twice. Kuhn went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, and Berryman had two hits and drove in three runs as MVNU collected 16 hits in the game. Wilson led Salem International with three hits, while Ficarro, Jessica Bias, Megan Edgell, and Emily Webb had two hits apiece for the Lady Tigers and Mangold finished with three RBI. Freshman right-hander Ashley Riffell (1-0) weathered the storm to pick up a complete game victory for the Lady Cougars as she scattered 13 hits, three walks, and seven runs over 10 innings with a career-high eight strikeouts. Meanwhile, Mangold (3-2) took the loss for Salem International as she gave up 16 hits, three walks, and eight runs while striking out just one batter. "It was great to come away with two victories today," said MVNU head coach Jeana Howald. "The girls were into it today and showed a lot of perseverance in the second game to battle back and get the victory. We got contributions from everyone and they added up to a victory. Jill did a great job on the mound in the first game, and Ashley really hung in there in the second game. After the first inning, she really settled down and just had the one hiccup when the girl hit the three-run homer in the ninth inning. She gave us a chance to come back and win the game." "It's great to start the season with some wins," Howald added. "We're looking forward to another challenge on Tuesday and then gearing up for our spring trip to Florida." The Lady Cougars will host Point Park (Pa.) University in another non-conference twinbill on Tuesday afternoon at 3 p.m. at Cougar Field.

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