Softball Drops Two Including Extra-Inning Heartbreaker in Game Two Against MNU
The Graceland University softball team came within one out of a conference road win but ultimately dropped both games of a Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) doubleheader to MidAmerica Nazarene University on Friday afternoon. After falling 6-0 in Game 1, the Yellowjackets led 2-1 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh in Game 2 before surrendering the game-tying hit. Graceland went on to fall 3-2 in walk-off fashion in the ninth.
With the two losses, Graceland moved to 10-20 overall and 3-3 in Heart play, while MidAmerica Nazarene improved to 9-17 overall and 2-4 in conference.
Game 1: MidAmerica Nazarene 6, Graceland 0
The Yellowjackets were limited to just one hit by MNU right-hander M. Brown, who threw a complete-game shutout. Brown struck out 13 Graceland hitters, walked three, and faced just 25 batters in seven innings.
Graceland starter P. Pialet (1-10) took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits over four innings. Kady Vandemark entered in relief and gave up three additional runs in the fifth and sixth.
Graceland's lone hit came from B. Windham, who singled in the third inning. The Yellowjackets drew three walks but left four runners on base and struck out 13 times. The team was held without an extra-base hit and never advanced a runner past second base.
MidAmerica Nazarene broke through in the third inning with back-to-back RBI hits from A. Schulte and A. VanLanker to take a 2-0 lead. The Pioneers added three more in the fifth on an RBI single and a two-RBI double, then tacked on an insurance run in the sixth.
Game 2: MidAmerica Nazarene 3, Graceland 2 (9 innings)
Game 2 featured a back-and-forth battle with late dramatics. Sophomore pitcher Sammi Bradshaw (6-7) went the distance, throwing 8.2 innings with eight strikeouts, three walks, and nine hits allowed. Bradshaw threw 127 pitches and held MNU scoreless in five of nine frames.
Trailing 1-0 entering the sixth, Graceland staged a rally. Walks by J. Gay and S. Bradshaw and a sacrifice bunt set the stage for A. Farrell, who delivered a two-RBI single to left field to score Bradshaw and pinch runner A. Hansen, giving Graceland a 2-1 lead.
Bradshaw returned to the circle in the bottom of the seventh and recorded two outs before K. Stoakes lined a game-tying RBI double to left center. The game extended into extra innings, where Bradshaw continued to battle, working around baserunners in the eighth.
In the bottom of the ninth, a fielder's choice and stolen base moved the winning run into scoring position. With two outs, Stoakes struck again, doubling to the gap to score R. Todd and end the game.
Offensively, Farrell drove in both Graceland runs. J. Gay doubled and walked twice. The Yellowjackets drew seven walks total, but MNU reliever M. Brown held Graceland hitless over the final three innings to earn her second win of the day.
Bradshaw finished with a line of 8.2 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, throwing 86 strikes in her 127 pitches. MNU outhit Graceland 9-2 and recorded three extra-base hits, including both run-scoring doubles from Stoakes.
Head coach Todd Verwers praised the team's fight in the second game:
"We battled hard, especially in Game 2. Sammi threw her heart out and gave us every opportunity to win. Offensively, we didn't capitalize enough in big moments. We'll take the lessons from today, regroup, and get ready for Grand View. I believe in the grit of this group."
Up Next
Graceland travels to Des Moines, Iowa, for a conference doubleheader against Grand View University on Wednesday, April 2. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Charles S. Johnson Wellness Center.
For more information on Graceland softball and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.