MELBOURNE, Fla. - Shea VanScoter had three doubles during Goshen's third day of games at the Space Coast Spring Games, setting the new school record for career doubles. After Goshen lost to #25 Coastal Georgia 2-3 in their first game, the Leafs took down Siena Heights 4-3 in the next one.
VanScoter now has 50 career doubles, surpassing the record of 49 from Ri Koteles ('22).
Game One
Goshen struck first against the ranked Coastal Georgia squad when
Alyssa McDonald hit an RBI single with two outs in the inning to score
Kaylee Kates, who hit a single to start the game. The Mariners answered back in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single of their own.
Maple Leafs starter
Grace Schmitt settled in and allowed no hits between the second and fourth innings after giving up three in the first. In the top of the fourth,
Shea VanScoter led off with a double and
Alyssa McDonald hit a sac bunt to move her to third.
Grace Schmitt then hit an RBI single to right to bring VanScoter home.
Coastal Georgia came thorugh again in the sixth with an RBI single to tie the game 2-2, and then scored an unearned run on a wild pitch to take the lead. Goshen went down quickly with a popup, strikeout and groundout in the seventh and lost by a run.
Grace Schmitt was the losing pitcher for Goshen, allowing two earned runs in 5.1 innings. She had three strikeouts and two walks allowed.
Esme Pico got the last two outs, not allowing any runs or hits.
VanScoter finished 2-3 with two doubles, her first two doubles of the young season.
Game Two
The Saints scored two early runs in the first inning on a two-RBI double, but the Maple Leafs recovered nicely in the bottom half of the inning with RBI singles off the bats of
Alyssa McDonald and
Sydney Lockhart. Goshen had four hits in the first inning alone.
Starter
Camryn Barrows threw just an inning, but
Esme Pico came in in the second inning and dominated. She would last 5.2 innings, not allowing any earned runs and just two hits. She threw five strikeouts and allowed two walks. Through 14.1 innings so far this year, Pico has a 3.91 ERA.
Goshen took the lead in the bottom of the third when VanScoter scored on a fielder's choice. Siena Heights scored an unearned run on a Goshen error in the fourth, but
Jasmin Smith scored what would be Goshen's game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single from
Rachel Kates. The Leafs had three hits in the inning.
Van Scoter came in for Pico to get the final batter out in the top of the seventh, earning the save while Pico took the win. Pico is tied for the league lead in strikeouts with 17 and wins with two. VanScoter leads the conference with her two saves so far this year.
Ella Mcleod had two of Goshen's nine hits, both singles.
Sydney Lockhart went 1-2 with two RBIs.
Shea VanScoter and
Brinleigh Arredondo each hit doubles.
Alyssa McDonald and
Bianca Diamond each had a stolen base. McDonald is tied for the league lead in stolen bases this season with four.
Goshen faces Johnson University - Tennessee on Friday at 10:00 am, a team receiving votes in the NAIA coaches poll. The Leafs will then take on Siena Heights again at 2:30 pm.
