ALLIANCE, Ohio – Mount Union's softball team swept Muskingum in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, winning game one 8-1 and winning game two 5-1.
The Purple Raiders (31-7, 14-4) would strike first in game one with a four run third inning, with RBIs coming from freshman
Sydney Mercer (Salem / West Branch), sophomore
Adri George (Eastlake / North) and senior
Alexis Temple (Mentor). Mount Union would add to their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring off RBIs from freshman
Faith Reicosky (North Canton / Hoover), Mercer and George to make the lead 7-0.
The Fighting Muskies (26-12, 11-7) would cut into the lead in the top half of the sixth when Claire Guilliams hit an RBI double to left center to cut the lead down to six runs. The Raiders would add another run in the bottom half of the inning when Reicosky scored of an RBI single from George. Muskingum wouldn't be able to answer in the seventh inning as the Raiders would go on to take game one 8-1.
Freshman
Kendyll Cahill (Grove Port / Grove Port Madison) got the start in the circle for Mount Union and gave up just one run on eight hits and struck out four in seven innings of action.
The Raiders would strike first again in game two when George hit a sacrifice fly that scored Reicosky in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 lead. Mount Union would add to their lead in the second inning, scoring off RBI doubles from freshman
Faith Kiko (North Canton / Hoover) and sophomore
Amanda Bish (Mercer, Pa. / Mercer Area) to increase the lead to 3-0.
The Muskies would cut into the lead in the top of the third when Kalie Eshelman hit a solo homerun to left field to cut the lead to 3-1. The Raiders would add two more runs in the bottom half of the fifth with RBIs coming from senior
Grace Heath (Beloit / West Branch) and George to increase the lead to 5-1. Muskingum wouldn't be able to answer over the final two innings as Mount Union would go on to win 5-1.
Cahill got the start again in the circle for Mount Union and went the distance again, giving up just one run on four hits and struck out three.
With the sweep the Raiders won the OAC Regular Season Championship and will host the OAC Softball Tournament next week, the tournament will begin on Friday, May 12 and conclude on Sunday, May 14.
The Raiders are back in action again tomorrow as they host Case Western Reserve in their regular season finale, with game one starting at 1 p.m. followed by game two at 3 p.m. in Alliance.
