Bradshaw Dominates Game Two as Jackets Earn Road Split With #7 CMU
FAYETTE, Mo. – The Graceland University softball team secured one of the program's most significant victories in recent memory on Sunday afternoon, defeating No. 7 Central Methodist University 1-0 in Game 2 of a conference doubleheader at the Cox Softball Complex. Graceland dropped the opener 8-0 before responding with the shutout in Game 2 behind a dominant pitching performance.
The Yellowjackets move to 10-18 overall and 3-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, while the nationally-ranked Eagles now sit at 19-5 overall and 3-1 in the Heart following the split.
Game 1: Central Methodist 8, Graceland 0 (5 Innings)
The Eagles jumped ahead early and never looked back in the opener, scoring three runs in the second inning and plating five more over the next three frames to secure a run-rule victory.
Central Methodist collected 10 hits off Graceland pitching, including a two-run double by Riley Brandt and a solo home run by Jillian Crider. The Eagles also capitalized on three Yellowjacket defensive errors.
Graceland was held to four hits, with singles coming from Kaitlyn Cook, Kady Vandemark, Charlee Peters, and Brooklynn Glasgow. Vandemark and Glasgow nearly sparked a scoring opportunity in the second inning, but Vandemark was tagged out at the plate attempting to score.
Sophomore Paige Pialet took the loss in the circle, allowing four earned runs over 2.2 innings. Vandemark came on in relief and gave up three runs (two earned) over 1.2 innings.
Game 2: Graceland 1, No. 7 Central Methodist 0
In a dramatic turnaround, the Yellowjackets edged the nationally-ranked Eagles 1-0 in Game 2, powered by a complete-game shutout from senior Sammi Bradshaw. The right-hander scattered five hits across seven innings, striking out four and walking one to earn her sixth win of the season.
Graceland scored the game's only run in the top of the first inning. After Kaitlyn Cook walked and advanced to third on a passed ball and groundout, she scored when Bradshaw drew a walk and advanced to second as the passed ball allowed Cook to cross the plate.
Bradshaw took control from there, working around base runners in multiple innings with the help of a solid defensive performance. Charlee Peters provided the Yellowjackets' only extra-base hit of the day with a double in the fourth, and Paige Pialet added a single.
The win marked Graceland's first victory over a nationally ranked opponent this season and snapped Central Methodist's seven-game winning streak. "This is a huge win for our program," said head coach Todd Verwers. "We challenged the team to bounce back after Game one, and Sammi gave us an incredible performance in the circle. Defensively we were locked in, and we executed enough offensively to make it count. I couldn't be prouder of this group."
Graceland was out-hit 5-2 in the game but committed only one error and stranded eight Eagle runners to preserve the shutout.
Up Next
The Yellowjackets return to action on Friday, March 28, traveling to Olathe, Kansas, for a conference doubleheader against MidAmerica Nazarene University. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m., with Game 2 to follow at approximately 4 p.m.
For more information on Graceland softball and all Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.