PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (Softball) – In an effort to stave off impending weather on Saturday, the Shawnee State softball team opened Mid-South Conference play with a tripleheader versus Cumberland University on Friday afternoon at Boone Coleman Field.
The Bears offense went off for nine runs in a 9-1 victory in game one, but went quiet over the final two games en rout to 5-1 and 2-0 defeats in games two and three.
Game One
Despite collecting just six hits, game one turned into a mercy rule victory in five innings for the Bears, as SSU scored four runs in the first, four more in the third and one in the fifth to put the contest away.
Shawnee State got on the board immediately in the first, as Heidi Hall (JR/Greenwich, Ohio) singled down the left field line with one out. Following a pop out, Hannah Dittoe (SR/Pickerington, Ohio) smashed a home run to center field, and the Bears led, 2-0.
Peighton Williams (FR/Portsmouth, Ohio) followed with a two-out walk, and Megan Shupert (FR/West Portsmouth, Ohio) singled to left. Morgan McReynolds (SO/Covington, Ohio) and McKenzie Whittaker (FR/McDermott, Ohio) followed with back-to-back RBI singles to put the Bears ahead, 4-0, after one.
In the third, with runners on first and second following an error by the Phoenix, McReynolds drew a walk to load the bases. Whittaker was then hit by a pitch to score the first run of the inning. Madi Phillips (FR/Portsmouth, Ohio) then hit a ground ball to short, and the throw home got away from the catcher to allow Shupert to score.
Another error plated one more run, and Phillips followed with a steal home to push the score to 8-0 as the third inning came to a close.
The Phoenix got a run in the fourth, when Brittany Rasmussen singled home Tessa Tomaselli to make it 8-1.
The Bears got the final run in the bottom of the fifth, after McReynolds walked to lead off the inning. With Jenna Crawford (SO/Franklin Furnace, Ohio) pinch running, Whittaker doubled to left field, plating the run to bring the game to a close.
Morgan Conrad (SO/Circleville, Ohio) went the full five innings in the game, scattering five hits and just one earned run. She walked three while striking out a pair to move to 4-4 on the season.
Game Two
The scoring came to a halt in game two, as neither team was able to get on the board in the first three innings.
The Bears finally kicked off the scoring in the fourth, when Dittoe doubled and moved to third on a passed ball. Shupert knocked in Dittoe on a bunt two batters later.
Again the scoring came to a halt, as SSU starter Whittaker stymied the Phoenix for the first six innings. Whittaker went seven frames, allowing just one run on five hits. The run came in the top of the seventh with two outs, when Maryah Cohen scored on a wild pitch.
The Bears were unable to score in the bottom of the seventh, and Cumberland exploded for four runs in the first extra frame to put the game away. CU starter Crystal Bryant worked around a base hit in the bottom of the inning to put the game away.
Game Three
The bats disappeared even further in the final game of the tripleheader for Shawnee State, as the Bears were limited to just two hits in the final contest.
Cumberland struck first in the fourth inning, when Kassydi Montgomery sent an RBI double into left center field. The Phoenix added one more in the fifth on an RBI single from Imani Torregano.
Shawnee State would not get another hit over the final three at-bats, as Kristen Abell cruised to the complete game victory. Miranda Pauley (JR/Portsmouth, Ohio) took the loss for SSU despite a solid outing. Pauley went all seven frames, allowing just the two runs – one earned – on four hits, no walks and a strikeout.
The Bears and Phoenix will get back at it one more time on Saturday morning to bring the series to a close. First pitch at Boone Coleman field is set for 10 a.m.
