GOSHEN, Ind. - Alisyn Catenacci continues to simultaneously have great offensive performances when she is also the starting pitcher for the Leafs. She did so on Thursday when she hit a grand slam and pitched a shutout as Goshen beat Saint Francis 10-0. The Leafs won the second game 6-4.
Catenacci's grand slam came at the start of the day. In the first inning,
Kaylee Kates and
Shea VanScoter both walked to get on base, and then
Mckenzie Richardson was hit by a pitch. Catenacci came up next and hit one out to left center - her league-leading fifth home run this season.
Bianca Diamond and
Mckenzie Richardson had RBI singles for the Leafs. Then Goshen added two more home runs in the sixth.
Alyssa McDonald hit a solo shot, and
Grace Schmitt had a three-run homer that ended the game - as Goshen eclipsed the mercy rule mark.
Catenacci allowed no earned runs in six innings pitched. She struck out six, walked two, and allowed six hits. She has an 8-2 record this year - the fourth-most wins in the conference. VanScoter, Diamond, and Schmitt finished the game with two hits each.
It took longer for Goshen to get runs in game two, but they did so quickly when they got to the fourth inning.
With the Cougars leading 1-0,
Mckenzie Richardson hit an RBI double that scored
Shea VanScoter to tie the game.
Alyssa McDonald followed with an RBI double that scored Richardson, and then
Kyra Wilson added a three-run home run to make it a 5-1 game.
Saint Francis scored three times in the fifth inning, and McDonald scored the final Goshen run when she crossed home plate on a wild pitch in the sixth. USF left a runner in scoring position in the top of the third, and GC won 6-4.
Shea VanScoter earned the win and is now 7-1 this season with a 2.69 ERA. In five innings, she allowed four earned runs and five hits. She had two hits along with Richardson and Catenacci. McDonald scored two runs.
Goshen's road games at Taylor that were scheduled for Saturday have been postponed due to the forecast and will be played on April 12. Game one will start at 4:00 pm.