The Siena Heights Softball Team split a pair of games in Arizona, falling by a score of 8-3 to #10 ranked Indiana Wesleyan, and then defeating St. Xavier by a score of 8-2.
In the first game, the Saints fell behind 2-0 before tying the game in the fourth. However, three runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings by Indiana Wesleyan, followed by a solo run by the Saints in the seventh accounted for the final score.
The Saints were outhit by a margin of 13-6. Kelsey Cherry led the way with two hits, Ashley Helmink (one hit, one run, one RBI), Kris Forest (one hit), Kristi Carlson (one hit, one run), and Bailee Taylor (one hit, one RBI) accounted for the Saints offense in this game.
Lauren Best got the start and sees the tough luck loss, throwing 5.1 innings, and allowing only five earned runs. Racquel Ward came on in relief and got the final two outs of the sixth inning. Best struck out three batters.
In game two, the Saints saw St. Xavier score a run in the top of the first and responded with one run of their own in the bottom of the inning. The Cougars retook the lead in the top of the second, however a five run bottom of the second by the Saints followed by a solo run in the third and the fourth finished off the games' scoring.
Offensively, the Saints pounded out 15 hits. Five Saints had multi-hit games – Forest (two hits, two doubles, two runs scored), Cherry (three hits, two RBI), Ward (three hits, two runs, one double), Taylor Mowery (two hits, one run, one double, two RBI), and Lexi Agers (two hits, one run, two RBI, one triple) accounted for 12 of the 15 hits, Skylar Crenshaw, Hayley Turk, and Helmink had the other hits for the Saints.
On the mound, Ward threw the complete game, earning her first career win at Siena Heights. She threw seven innings, allowing only four hits, and striking out four.
The Saints will return to action tomorrow morning with games at 9 and 11 am local time to wrap up their spring break trip.