Softball team dominates in the sunshine state
The talented bunch won eight of their 10 games over the past week in Florida
Aaron Young
Staff Writer
The Maverick softball team traveled down to Florida for the NTC Spring games this past week, winning eight of their 10 games they played in the sunshine state.
They began the week with a matchup against the Western Oregon Wolves.
In their first matchup, the Mavericks started out hot as they led 2-0, following a sacrifice fly in the third and a solo shot from sophomore Emma Schifferle.
However, the Wolves would rally late in the seventh to win 3-2.
Later that day, the Mavs avenged their loss when they beat No. 1-ranked Saint Anslem.
Down 1-0 in the third, sophomore pitcher Mackenzie Paap connected for an RBI single to even the game at 1.
In the next inning, the Mavericks lit up, scoring four runs, including a solo shot from junior infielder Amber Kral. They took advantage of three errors from the Hawks to get to a 5-1 lead.
The Mavericks would cap off the win with two runs late in response to Saint Anselm’s one, to win 7-2.
What followed was a seven-game winning streak. The Mavericks dominated the Felician Golden Falcons 10-0, with the game ending in five innings.
They got out to an early lead, scoring one in the first off, a double from senior catcher Cori Kennedy. In the second, the Mavs exploded with six hits and four runs.
Freshman Hannah Hastings hit a solo shot, and Bridges, Paap, and Richards scored one each as well.
In the bottom of the third, Bridges smashed a two-run home run to put the Mavericks up 9-0 and Kennedy put the icing on the cake with a solo home run cultivating in a 10-0 victory for the Mavericks.
Minnesota State then followed up with an 11-5 win over the Edinburgh Fighting Scots and a 10-0 victory over the University of Sciences.
In the first game, the Mavericks got off to a hot start, as junior outfielder Carly Esselman hit a two-run home run in the first, followed by Kennedy’s solo shot to put the Mavs up 3-0.
Later on, in the game, Scifferle hit her second home run to put the game at 11-5. The Mavs continued their winning with a five-inning 10-0 blowout and a 3-2 win over the Wilmington Wildcats.
Against the Wildcats, the Mavs trailed until late, when a passed ball happened advancing Bastian home. Then Scifferle singled up the middle driving in Paap for the win.
On Wednesday, the Mavericks faced Mercyhurst and Southern Indiana, winning both games 7-2 and 7-4. Julia Bastian earned the win against Mercyhurst, making her 4-0 on the year.
In the first game, Cori Kennedy hit a three-run homer but Mercyhurst responded with two runs of their own. In the sixth inning, the squad went on a tear, scoring five runs en route to a 7-2 victory.
The Mavericks ended their trip with a split. On Thursday, the Mavericks winning streak came to an end with a loss to No. 14 Grand Valley. Grand Valley put up five runs before the Mavs tried their hardest but fell short, 5-4.
Despite the loss, the Mavs ended their trip on a high note with a victory against the Ashland Eagles. After three innings, the game was tied at 4 apiece before being tied at 5. Sophomore outfielder Courtney Potter would then drive in freshman Kayla Moky in to win the game.
After their spring games, the Mavs softball team stands at 12-6. Their next game is against Missouri Southern State down in St. Joseph, Missouri.
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Header photo: Sophomore Emma Schifferle (14) celebrates with freshman Kayla Moky (11) after scoring a run during last week’s road trip in Florida. (Courtesy of Maverick Athletics)