TUSCON, Ariz. – Lauren Valdez threw a no-hitter as the Siena Heights softball team split the third of action on their Spring Break trip, defeating Fisher (Mass.) 34-0 and falling to Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 14-10.
The Saints started off the convincing victory over Fisher with two runs in the first and eight runs in the second inning before SHU exploded with an 18-run third inning. Siena Heights ended with four runs in the fourth and two runs in the fifth to end it in a school record 34 runs to nil.
In the circle, Valdez threw 12 strikeouts in only five innings of action and allowed no hits on the way to her first collegiate win as a Saint. For the Falcons (0-2), Taylor Rowley allowed 26 hits with two strikeouts in five innings. As a team, Fisher managed nine errors as the Saints held a clean sheet.
Most of the Saints saw multiple hits in the game, leading was designated hitter Kenzie Edson earned five RBIs while going 3-for-3 for SHU. Also managing three hits each was Ashley Helmink, Vanessa Wandrie and Skylar Crenshaw.
Siena Heights started out the second game strong, scoring five unanswered runs on Olivet Nazarene in the first inning. The Tigers (7-5) fought back, scoring nine runs in the next four innings before SHU managed to score again in the bottom of the fifth, sending four runners home to tie it up 9-9. ONU scored three more in the sixth and the Saints answered with one run, but Olivet Nazarene added two insurance runs in the seventh inning to earn a 14-10 victory over SHU.
Starting for the Saints (2-4) was pitcher Raquel Ward, throwing four innings while allowing seven runs and earning three strikeouts. She was relieved by Lauren Best who had seven runs, six earned, against her with one strikeout in the final three innings of action as she took the loss. Emily Struble pitched the first 0.2 innings for ONU, allowing five runs, prior to being relieved by Emily Carstens. Carstens earned the win with two strikeouts and five runs, four earned, against.
Kris Forest went 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run to lead the Saints in the batter's box. Amy Nordstrom managed four RBIs on two hits. The Tigers were led by Sara Beers with three hits and two RBIs while Carstens earned two hits and two RBIs.
Siena Heights will return to action on Thursday, when the Saints face Indiana Wesleyan and Saint Xavier (Ill.) at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. local time, respectively.