FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The Goshen softball season ended on Tuesday afternoon after a single-game elimination loss to Spring Arbor in the Crossroads League tournament at the University of Saint Francis. The Cougars won 3-0 in a short, pitcher's duel.
The matchup was expected to be a battle between the two best pitchers in the Crossroads League, and that was what the fans received. Spring Arbor's Emilee Underwood is first in the Crossroads League in ERA (1.81) and strikeouts (157) while Goshen's
Camryn Barrows is right behind her in both categories (2.16, 117).
In the top of the first inning,
Ella Mcleod reached base on an error and moved to second after a wild pitch.
Audrey White singled through the right side and Mcleod got to third base. However, a strikeout followed by a groundout ended the inning. Summer Ambler hit an RBI double for SAU in the bottom of the first to make it 1-0. After a groundout, an error and a strikeout, Grace Lentz doubled to left anf two unearned runs scored to make it 3-0.
Camryn Barrows settled in after the first inning and allowed no runs on just two hits in the next five innings pitched. She had quick 1-2-3 innings in the second, fourth and fifth innings. Unfortunately, the Leafs weren't able to get the run support, as Underwood allowed just two hits in her seven innings pitched.
Tatem Adams singled in the top of the fourth for GC, but pinch runner
Serenidy Mitchem came in and was caught stealing second later in the inning. The Cougars held their 3-0 lead through the end in a game that lasted just one hour and three minutes.
Brinleigh Arredondo had the only walk for either team. Barrows had five strikeouts and no walks in six innings pitched. She allowed one earned run, three total runs and five hits. Goshen was 0-2 on stolen base attempts in a game where bases were already hard to come by.
Goshen has qualified for the Crossroads League tournament each season since 2019, except for the coronavirus-shortened 2020 season.
