GOSHEN, Ind. - Goshen softball had a couple of one-run losses against #12 Marian on Saturday afternoon. The Knights improved their record to 33-3 overall.
Goshen had to face one of the top pitchers in the NAIA in game one, but quickly made a mark. Olivia Stunkel came into the games with the fourth best ERA in the NAIA at 0.55, but the Leafs scored five runs in the first inning alone.
Bianca Diamond and
Ella Mcleod had RBI singles,
Mckenzie Richardson had a two-RBI double and
Alyssa McDonald added an RBI triple. Stunkel left the game after starting the second inning by allowing a double and a single. However, the Leafs had three quick outs after that.
It stayed 5-0 until the Knights had their own five-run inning in the top of the fourth. They took a 7-5 lead in the fifth, but GC responded in the bottom half of the inning with four runs. They didn't hold the lead for long though, as Marian scored four runs in the sixth and went on to win 12-11.
McDonald finished with two extra-base hits - a triple and a home run. She scored twice and had two RBIs. Richardson had two hits, three RBIs and a run. VanScoter and Diamond had three hits apiece.
Grace Schmitt held her own in the pitching matchup against Stunkel. She went four innings and allowed four earned runs with no walks given up.
Esme Pico had the loss, throwing the final two innings and allowing one earned run.
The Leafs nearly made a remarkable comeback in game two, but the rally came up just short.
Marian led 7-2 going into the bottom of the seventh. Mcleod started the inning by reaching on a fielding error, followed by
Kamille Badibanga hitting a single.
Sydney Lockhart came in to pinch hit and shot a single down the right field line to score Mcleod. Next, VanScoter hit a three-run shot to make it 7-6. All of this was done with no outs in the inning, but the Knights got the next three Maple Leafs out on a groundout, a flyout and a lineout to escape with a 7-6 win.
VanScoter was 2-3 with four RBIs. Diamond had a solo homer in the third inning.
Peyton Foreman went 2-3 with a couple of singles. After starting the season with three hits in her first 18 at-bats, she now has ten hits in her last 21 at-bats.
Alisyn Catenacci had the loss, allowing five runs but only two earned runs in 5.2 innings. She had five strikeouts and one walk.
Goshen hosts #22 Indiana Wesleyan on Tuesday, April 18, at 3:00 pm.