NEW CONCORD, Ohio—The Mount Union softball team earned a split in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader on Sunday, taking an 8-0 five-inning decision before dropping a 9-3 contest at Muskingum. The Purple Raiders are now 10-12 overall on the season and 2-2 in OAC play.

Winning pitcher Bre Willis (Navarre/Fairless) was flawless in her second shutout of the season. Willis worked all five innings, allowing just two hits to go along with two strikeouts to improve to 4-5 on the season.

The Raider offense provided Willis with plenty of run support early, scoring six runs in the first two innings. A single by sophomore Shelby Carmichael (Dalton/Dalton) scored junior Kristen Gromes (Navarre/Fairless), who doubled to leadoff the game, for a 1-0 lead after one inning.

A walk and back-to-back singles were sandwiched in between a pair of strikeouts to load the bases in the second inning. Gromes singled to score Brittany Papp (Uniontown/Green). Junior Marissa Earl (Massillon/Washington) then delivered the grand slam to go ahead 6-0, which is all the offense that Willis would need.

Freshman Amy Brown (Uniontown/Lake) added a two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning.

Courtney Allen and Chelsea Kaunert recorded hits for the Muskies. Brittany Folk went 3.2 innings for Muskingum, allowing eight runs on hits eights while recording five strikeouts.

The Fighting Muskies (8-10, 1-1) proved true to their naming, fighting back for a 9-3 victory in the second game. Courtney Moyer homered in the bottom of the third inning to break a scoreless tie and put the hosts ahead 3-0.

A single by Earl Mount Union started a rally in the top of the fourth. After advancing to second base on a sac bunt, Earl scored on a fielding error by the Muskingum shortstop. Freshman Leigh Siedlak (Westerville/Westerville South) followed with her third home run of the season to tie the game.

Muskingum responded with a six-run bottom of the fourth, highlighted by Ashley Price's three-run double. The Raiders failed to put together another rally and were held scoreless over the final three innings.

Price went four innings to earn her third win of the season. Ashley Gilbert allowed just one hit over the final three innings to record her first save of the season.

Rachel McAninch (West Jefferson/West Jefferson) suffered the loss. She pitched 3.2 innings, giving up nine earned runs on eight hits. Willis scattered four hits over 2.1 scoreless inning of relief duty while recording three strikeouts.

The Purple Raiders are off all week before returning to action for a doubleheader against Otterbein next Saturday, March 31 at 23rd Street Field.

Mount Union 8, Muskingum 0 (Game 1)
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Mount Union 150 20 -  8  9  0
Muskingum  000 00 -  0  2  1
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Muskingum - Brittany Folk; Ashley Price (4) and Aly Mazzei. Mount Union - Bre Willis and
Brittany Papp.
Win- Bre Willis (4-5).  Loss- Brittany Folk (3-4).


Muskingum 9, Mount Union 3 (Game 2)
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Mount Union 000 300 0 -  3  3  0
Muskingum 003 600 X -  9 12  2
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Muskingum - Ashley Price; Ashley Gilbert (5) and Megan Reinhart. Mount Union - Rachel McAninch; Bre Willis (4) and Brittany Papp.
Win- Ashley Price (3-1).  Loss- Rachel McAninch (4-7). Loss- Ashley Gilbert (1).