SPRING ARBOR, Mich. - Three runs in the third made the difference for Spring Arbor in the first of two games with the Maple Leafs, and they walked it off in extras in game two - going nine innings. The Cougars won 3-0 and then 5-4. Goshen's home games against Taylor on Tuesday have been postponed due to the weather, with a makeup date yet to be determined.
Game One
Spring Arbor broke the scoreless game when Nicole Barbeau doubled to spark the rally, Summer Ambler added an RBI single, and Brooke Meeker followed with a two-run double to left-center for all three runs. Goshen starter
Esme Pico kept the Maple Leafs within reach by working six innings and allowing three runs, two of them earned, on eight hits.
Goshen finished the opener with three hits and no errors, but SAU starter Emilee Underwood never allowed the Maple Leafs to string together enough offense. She threw a complete-game shutout, scattered three hits and struck out 11 over seven innings.
Tatem Adams led Goshen at the plate by going 2-3.
Game Two
The second game turned into the tighter contest of the day. Goshen fell behind 1-0 in the first, then moved in front with a two-run third inning after
Brinleigh Arredondo singled and later scored as part of the rally. Spring Arbor answered immediately in the bottom half, with Grace Luby driving in two during a three-hit inning that pushed the Cougars back ahead, 3-2.
The Maple Leafs kept responding, though.
Kaylee Kline doubled in a run in the sixth to tie the game 3-3, and Goshen pulled even again in the seventh when
Esme Pico delivered a pinch-hit single and
Ella Mcleod lifted a sacrifice fly that scored Arredondo for a 4-4 game. Arredondo scored twice, while
Camryn Barrows gave Goshen 8.1 innings in the circle and struck out seven.
Spring Arbor finally ended it in the bottom of the ninth. After Emilee Underwood drew a walk and the Cougars advanced runners on a wild-pitch sequence, Kennadi Killeen came home on a flyout to seal a 5-4 win. Goshen collected eight hits but was hurt by four errors.
With Tuesday's home games postponed, Goshen's next contests are at Saint Francis on Thursday, April 2, at 3:00 pm.
