Cougar News
Softball - Tue, Apr. 9, 2013
MCKENZIE, Tenn. - It is amazing in sports how sometimes one good day can affect a team for several days afterward. That is exactly what has happened with the Mid-Continent University softball team in the last week.
Since a double-header sweep of Harris-Stowe on April 4, Mid-Continent (6-20, 3-9) has picked up two conference wins, including one on Monday afternoon over Bethel University (9-14, 4-6). The Cougars outslugged the Lady 'Cats to pick up the win in game one 10-5 in eight innings, before Bethel came back to take a run-rule win in the second game 13-4 in five frames.
Bethel scored in the bottom of the first inning of game one, but in the second inning, Mid-Continent got the offense going. The Cougars drew back-to-back walks to start the inning, and after Alyssa Ybarra put down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third, Anna Maziarka lined a double into the gap in right-center, putting the Cougars up 2-1. One out later, Christina Winsett singled home Maziarka, stretching the Mid-Continent advantage to 3-1, and the next three hitters drew free passes, with Bry Navarro picking up an RBI on a bases loaded walk to cap the four-run inning. The Lady 'Cats tallied three times in the third to tie the game, highlighted by a two-run home run from Brooklyn Jenkins - her fourth in a week's time against Mid-Continent - knotting the score at 4-4. Lindsey Rucker picked up an RBI single in the top of the fourth to reclaim the lead for Mid-Continent at 5-4, but in the sixth, the Lady 'Cats again tied the score, forcing extra innings. Ybarra led off the eighth frame with a base hit, and she moved up to second on what would prove to be a costly error that put runners at first and second with no one out. The Cougars eventually loaded the bases with no one out, but Winsett bounced into a fielder's choice and Rucker struck out, and with two out, the Cougars turned to their bench. Kelsey Tramel drew a walk to force in the go ahead run, then Navarro cleared the bases with a triple to left-center, as the Cougars tallied five times to break the game open. Bethel managed a one-out single in the bottom of the eighth, but that was all, as Mid-Continent took the win 10-5 in eight innings.
Lindsey Rucker (5-12) threw the complete game for the Cougars, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits, five walks, and five strikeouts. Shawna McAdams (0-1) took the loss, tossing six and one-third innings for Bethel, giving up six runs - though just one was earned - on seven hits, three free passes and six strikeouts.
Mid-Continent tallied first in game two, when Colby Smith singled and scored thanks to two wild pitches from Bethel pitcher Elizabeth Brooks. Bethel scored twice in the bottom of the inning, but in the second, Maziarka came up with another RBI-double, scoring Ybarra and tying the game, 2-2. Bethel broke the game open in the second and fourth innings, tallying six runs between the two frames to take the lead 8-2. Rachel Brueggeman (4) blasted a long two-run homer in the top of the fifth inning to pull Mid-Continent to within four at 8-4, but in the bottom of the fifth, Shelby Evans launched a three-run blast to left field, and Blakely Robertson smacked an RBI double, ending the game with Bethel claiming the win 12-4.
Brooks (5-4) threw the complete game for the win, allowing four earned runs on seven hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. Smith (1-6) was hit with the loss, lasting an inning and two-thirds before giving way to Rucker who finished the game. Offensively, Ybarra had a pair of singles in the game, while Maziarka's double and Brueggeman's homer were the only extra base knocks Mid-Continent was able to record.
Mid-Continent will return home to play their third home TranSouth double-header on Wednesday afternoon, hosting the Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions (20-6, 8-0). First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
