PORTSMOUTH – Softball came out on the losing end of two pitching duels in its home opener Friday evening at Boone Coleman Field against Madonna. In the opening game, the Crusaders (10-10) made a pair of runs in the top of the first hold up in the 2-1 victory. They then earned the sweep over the Bears (1-3) by scoring twice in seventh to tie the game and twice in the top of the eighth to win the second game, 4-2.
The opening game started out innocently for the hosts as Ali Thompson got both of the first two batters that she faced but the Crusaders third batter worked a walk and the cleanup hitter would make her pay for that free pass with a home run to make it 2-0 after a half inning.
Thompson would concede just four hits over the remainder of the game, but her counterpart, Carlee Meek, was just a little bit better on the night as she would allow just four hits and one earned run over the complete seven inning game. Thompson also threw a complete game, allowing five hits and the two earned runs in the first.
The Bears lone run came on Hannah Dittoe's first career home run with one out in the fourth inning to make the game 2-1 with three innings to play. However, the Bears could only manage one single in both the fifth and sixth innings as the Crusaders held on for the 2-1 victory.
In the second game, it was the Bears that jumped on the scoreboard early with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. After Allie Chapman set down the Crusaders in order in the first, Ericka Leighty and Brytan Givens got the game started with a double and an RBI single to plate the first run. Givens would move into scoring position on a groundout and Holly Brabson would bring her home with a one-out RBI single.
The only inning that Madonna even threatened before the seventh came in the top of the sixth when it put runners on first and third with two outs and Shawnee State was able to catch the runner trying to steal second in a rundown before the runner on third could score in the attempted double steal.
The Crusaders started the seventh inning with a pair of singles and after a walk loaded the bases, a two-RBI double brought home the game-tying runs. The first out of that inning was made on the basepaths while Chapman would get a strikeout looking and fly out to center to send the game tied into the bottom of the seventh.
The Bears put their first two runners on in the bottom of the seventh after Katy Bender reached on an error and Kelsey Jenkins singled. However, the Bears would leave the two runners stranded and Madonna scored a run in the eighth after a sacrifice bunt with the runner starting on second scored on a wild throw to try and cut down the run. The second run came across with the aid of a defensive misplay in the outfield.
In their final chance to extend the game, the Bears singled to put runners on first and second with the runner starting in scoring position. However, a groundout and pair a pair of fly balls would end the SSU half of the inning.
The Bears will be back in action tomorrow afternoon at home against Georgetown College to open Mid-South Play. That doubleheader will begin at 2 p.m.
