KISSIMMEE, Fla.—The Mount Union softball team defeated Emmanuel (Mass.), 8-3, to give head coach Sandy Douglas her 600th career win. Douglas is the 19th Division III softball coach to win 600 games and is 13th among actives coaches in wins.

Douglas did not have to wait long to pick up No. 600. A day after earning No. 599 in a win over Albion (Mich.), the Purple Raiders split a pair of games to help their skipper join elite company.

Mount Union led 8-0 through three innings before Emmanuel rallied to score three runs in the fourth inning. Neither team was able to plate any runs over the final three innings, however, and the Raiders picked up the 8-3 victory.

Junior Kristen Gromes (Navarre/Fairless) got the Raider offense going in the first inning with a leadoff walk. Gromes worked her way around the base path, and scored on a sac bunt by freshman Hannah Kopack (Westlake/Westlake).

Gromes helped break the game open during the Raiders' four-run second inning. Following a pair of walks by freshman Julie Olbrych (Youngstown/Boardman) and junior Marissa Earl (Massillon/Washington), Gromes delivered a two-out single that scored Olbrych. Freshman Kaylah Nieschwitz (Canton/St. Thomas Aquinas) followed with a single of her own, bringing Earl and Gromes around to score. Kopack then delivered her second RBI of the game with a single that scored Nieschwitz.

Mount Union added three more run in the third inning. With two outs, Earl delivered a two-run home run to make it 7-0. Gromes followed with a triple and was able to score on an error by the Saints.

Freshman Michelle Stiltner (White Lake, Mich./Lakeland) had a memorable collegiate debut in the pitcher's circle for the Raiders. Stiltner held the Saints hitless through three innings before allowing three runs in the fourth. The freshman regrouped and allowed just one more hit the rest of the way to seal the victory. Stiltner finished the game with nine strikeouts and allowed just three hits.

Mount Union dropped their first game of the day, 6-3, to Methodist (N.C.). The Monarchs scored a run in each of the first three innings to take an early 3-0 lead, but the Raiders plated a run of their own in the bottom of the third  and two more in the fifth to tie the game.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, Methodist scored three runs to go ahead, 6-3. Kopack singled to lead-off the Raider half of the seventh, but was left stranded on second base.

Gromes had a pair of hits, two RBI, and scored a run for the Raiders while Earl had an RBI triple.

Junior Rachel McAninch (West Jefferson/West Jefferson) threw a complete game for Mount Union, striking out five batters. Kayla Malone earned the win for Methodist.

Douglas is the Ohio Athletic Conference's active leader in career wins and ranks second all-time in the conference. During her 19-year stint as the volleyball coach at Mount Union, Douglas totaled 338 win, giving her 938 career wins as a collegiate head coach overall.

After a day of rest, the Raiders (2-4) will be in action again on Thursday with a pair of games against Beloit (Wis.) and Simpson (Iowa) at the Osceola County Softball Complex in Kissimmee, Florida. The first game is scheduled for 3 pm, followed by the second game at 5 pm.

Methodist (N.C.) 6, Mount Union 3
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Methodist (N.C.).... 111 000 30 -  6 11  1
Mount Union......... 001 020 0X -  3  5  2
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Pitchers: Methodist (N.C.) - Kayla Malone and Ally Griffin; Sarah Chapman . Mount Union -
Rachel McAninch and Hannah Kopack.
Win-Kayla Malone  Loss-Rachel McAninch  T-  A-0

Mount Union 8, Emmanuel (Mass.) 3
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Mount Union......... 143 000 0 -  8 12  0      (2-4)
Emmanuel (Mass.).... 000 300 0 -  3  3  1      (1-5)
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Pitchers: Mount Union - Michelle Stiltner and Hannah Kopack; Ashley Shea. Emmanuel (Mass.)
Julia Levins; Kathryn Copp(3) and Kristen Landers.
Win-Michelle Stiltner  Loss-Julia Levins(0-2)  T-2:00  A-50
HR MTU - Marissa Earl.