Manchester Softball Splits Double-Header with Franklin College
Kody Smith
Manchester University spring sports were in full swing on Sunday, April 8, as the baseball and softball squads hosted HCAC opponents on their respective home fields. On the softball side, MU split a double-header with Franklin College, falling to the Grizzlies 4-1 in game one, only to rally back to a 5-3 victory in game number two.
The offense was quieted in game one, as MU only tallied two total hits in the loss. Senior Sydney Thompson went 1-3 with a double in the contest, while sophomore Makenzi Nyland went 1-3 with a run batted in, as she plated Thompson in the bottom of the seventh inning.
On the mound, senior starting pitcher Madisyn Walter pitched all seven innings in the contest, allowing three earned runs on 10 hits. Walter fell to 4-5 on the year with the loss in game one.
The bats awoke from the short slumber game two, as five runs on seven hits was enough to secure a 5-3 victory for the Spartans. First year Alexis Mokos came through with a huge three-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning, as the bases emptied following her clutch hit. Junior Kate Skeens went 2-3 with an RBI, while senior Laurren Ladwig continued her impressive 2018 with a pair of hits as well.
Junior Haley Perez impressed on the hill, as the starting pitcher compiled six innings on the hill. Perez allowed only four hits and struck out one Franklin batter in route to her third win on the season. Walter found her way to the mound once again in game two, this time in a relief role. The senior shutdown the Grizzlies in the seventh inning to secure her first save of the season.
MU is back on the road tomorrow, April 14, for a non-conference clash with Alma College beginning at 1:00 P.M. Game two will beginning at approximately 3:00 P.M. The Spartans return home for a two-game set versus Kalamazoo on Sunday, April 15, with the first pitch slated for 12:00 P.M. with game two to follow.