SALEM, Va. – The no. 12 nationally ranked Mount Union softball team lost to no. 8 Belhaven 3-2 in an elimination game at the College World Series.
The Blazers (43-11) struck first when Melissa Lopera hit a two-run home run to left field in the top of the fourth inning to take a 2-0 lead.
The Purple Raiders (35-9) would cut into the lead in the fifth inning when senior
Sydney Mercer (Salem / West Branch) hit an RBI that scored senior
Lydia Brunner (Minerva) to cut the lead to a run. Then, in the following inning freshman
Addy Antonetz (Zanesville / West Muskingum) would tie the game with a solo home run to left field, tying the game at two runs apiece.
Belhaven would answer in the top half of the seventh when Liberty Gillihan hit a solo home run to right field to reclaim a one run lead. Mount Union wouldn't be able to answer in the bottom half of the seventh inning as the Blazers would go on to win 3-2.
Senior
Kendyll Cahill (Groveport / Groveport Madison) got the start in the circle and went the distance, allowing three runs on six hits and striking out four.
The Purple Raiders finish the season with a 35-9 overall record, which saw them go 15-1 in Ohio Athletic Conference play and claim their third OAC Regular Season Championship in four years. They also won their first NCAA Tournament Regional and Super Regional in program history to advance to the NCAA College World Series for the first time in program history.
