ALLIANCE, Ohio -- Mount Union's softball split a pair of games against John Carroll (12-13, 7-7 OAC) in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader Wednesday evening at 23rd Street Field.

The Purple Raiders (11-19, 4-10) matched John Carroll's hard hitting in game one but fell short with the final score 13-10. In game, the Raiders rallied to end it in five innings with a 10-2 victory.

In game one, John Carroll got off to a strong start as they lead 6-0 after the top half of the second inning. In the bottom, Mount Union answered back in a big way, scoring six runs on five hits and an error by the John Carroll defense to tie the game 6-6.

After a scoreless third inning, John Carroll had yet another powerful offensive outing in the fourth to retake the lead with an RBI triple, RBI single and a three-run homer to score five total runs, making it 11-6.

Bottom of the fourth, a two-out RBI double by Allie Goldy (Painesville/Riverside) sent Cheyenne Miller (Salem/West Branch) home. Goldy was then batted in by Maggie Dominick (Dennison/Tuscarawas Central Catholic) before the end of the inning to cut the lead to 11-8.

John Carroll was able to keep in the fifth inning alive after an error on the infield that eventually scored another run; Mount Union now trailing 12-8.

In the sixth, Mount Union was able to retire three straight batters and slow down John Carroll's scoring surge. Leading off, Morgan Riley (Charleroi, Pa./Charleroi) singled through to the left side. Miller was then walked to put runners on first and second. Savannah Miner (Louisville/Louisville) and Alexis French (Rocky River/Magnificat) came in to pinch run, making their way around the bases by a wild pitch and a passed ball. A two-RBI double by Dominick sent both Miner and French home to make the score 12-10 with one more inning to go.

Looking to close out the game, the Raiders had two outs in the top of the seventh before a long single to left field scored another John Carroll run, advancing their lead 13-10 before ultimately winning the game as Mount Union could not bring their two runners home in the bottom half of the inning.

In the circle, Shelby Vansickle (Loudonville/Loudonville) made her second start before being relieved by Liles after 1.2 innings pitched and allowing six runs on five hits. Liles, receiving the loss, falls to 1-4 after tossing 5.1 innings while giving up seven runs on six hits.

In game two, Mount Union's defense was strong after not allowing a single run in the tops of the first and second inning with just two hits.

With one out in the bottom of the second, Maddie Pidgeon (Salem/West Branch) hit a solo home run in her first at bat of the day. Three batters later, Jordan Kramer (Mentor/Mentor) lays down a bunt that scored Miner before the end of the inning, giving Mount Union the early lead at 2-0.

John Carroll looking to come back, tabbed a two-out two-RBI triple to tie the game in the top of the third. 

Three straight singles by Mount Union started the bottom half of the inning, bringing Pidgeon back up to the plate. With a full count, Pidgeon singled hard through to the right side which scored Goldy and French. Pidgeon was then able to advance to second on the throw as John Carroll was unable to make a play at home; Mount Union leads 4-2.

Brooklyn Hellman (Canton/Jackson) gets down a bunt and makes it to first as the ball is thrown past the first base. Unable to get any runners out on the play, Pidgeon and Dominick both make their way home to push the lead to 6-2.

John Carroll proceeded to go scoreless in the top of the fourth and fifth inning, as starting pitcher Hannah Reusser (Minerva/Minerva) only gave up three hits. 

Keeping the bats alive in the bottom of the fifth, Miner hit a triple to deep center field before being batted in off a Hellman double to right. Baitt and Kramer were then able to hit a pair of singles to load the bases with just one out. An RBI single by Riley sent Hellman home and moved the runners, keeping them loaded with Mount Union ahead 8-2. Cheyenne Byelene (Alliance/Alliance), in her first at bat of the season, hits a long and high single over the second baseman, giving Baitt and Kramer enough time and space to score as Mount Union would win the game in five innings, 10-2.

From the circle, Reusser's record evens to 8-8 on the season as she only allowed two runs on seven hits with a pair strikeouts in five innings pitched.

Next up, the Raiders head to Wilmington for their last away OAC series of the season on Saturday, April 21 starting at 3:00 p.m.