GOSHEN, Ind. - The GC softball team extended their win streak to five games with a pair of wins over Spring Arbor on Friday. Goshen rallied to win game one 6-5 in extra innings despite being down three runs when they were down to their final strike. The Leafs went on to win game two 7-2.

This was the first five-game conference win streak within the same season for the Maple Leafs since 2001 - when they won 11 in a row. There were four times in that span when they had a four-game conference win streak in the same season - coming in 2002, 2019, 2021 and 2024.

Game One
The Maple Leafs didn't have a lead in game one until the final run crossed home plate.

The Cougars scored once in the first, third and fourth innings to go up 3-0. In the bottom of the fourth, Grace Schmitt hit an RBI single to put the Leafs on the board. The Cougars responded with a run in the fifth, but Bianca Diamond scored in the sixth on a sacrifice fly hit by Carissa Fillingame. The Cougars had an RBI double in the seventh and the Leafs trailed 5-2 going into the bottom half of the last inning.

The bottom of the seventh started with two quick groundouts, but was followed by a triple from Shea VanScoter hit to right center. Alyssa McDonald was hit by a pitch in the next at-bat, and Bianca Diamond was up to bat next. With a 2-1 count, she fouled a pitch off - meaning the Leafs were down to their final strike. On the next pitch, she sent a shot to left center that was over the outstretched glove of the left fielder and just over the fence to tie the game 5-5. After a third out, the teams went to extra innings.

Goshen pitcher Esme Pico didn't even allow a baserunner in the top of the eighth, sending three Cougars back to the dugout after a flyout, a popup and a strikeout. The Maple Leafs, on the other hand, started their half of the inning with a double from Pico and a single off the bat of Carissa Fillingame. After a groundout and a fielder's choice, Brinleigh Arredondo came to the plate and singled through the left side. Pico scored the winning run and the Leafs won in walk-off fashion.

Pico earned the win, pitching the final 3.2 innings and allowing no earned runs and just one run on two hits. Diamond ended the game going 2-4 with two runs and three RBIs. Both hits were for extra bases. Tatem Adams was 2-3 with two singles. 

Game Two
Camryn Barrows started game two for the Leafs. While it took a moment for her to get her pitches under control, she didn't give up any runs in the first three innings and got settled into a groove. Goshen put up four runs in the bottom of the third. Bianca Diamond and Tatem Adams hit RBI bunt singles. Ella Mcleod had a sacrifice fly and Brinleigh Arredondo got on base on an error, scoring Diamond.

Spring Arbor scored a pair of runs in the top of the fourth and Goshen answered back with a two-run homer from Shea VanScoter, the 23rd of her career, tying her with former teammate Alisyn Catenacci for second all-time in program history. In the fifth, Adams hit an RBI single to take the lead to 7-2, which ended up being the final score.

Barrows is now 4-4 this season with the win. She had seven strikeouts and just one walk, allowing two earned runs and five hits. This was her fifth complete game of the season, tying her total from a year ago. The seven strikeouts are the most she has thrown in a game as a Maple Leaf.

VanScoter went 3-4 with two extra-base hits, two runs and two RBIs. Tatem Adams went 2-3 with two RBIs. She has five multi-hit games this season and they have all been within her last eight games. Alyssa McDonald and Bianca Diamond had two hits each as well.

Goshen (13-17, 9-11 CL) will look to extend the win streak when they face Saint Francis on Saturday, April 12, at 1:00 pm at home.