ADRIAN, Mich. – The Siena Heights softball team split a pair of Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference games against Northwestern Ohio, on Thursday. The Saints won the first game 2-0 prior to falling 12-3 in the second game of the evening.
Game one started out quiet with no runs in the first four innings, the Saints allowing only three UNOH batters in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Skylar Crenshaw hit a single to begin the bottom of the fifth for Saints. A sacrifice bunt by Lexi Agers put runners on first and second before an Ashley Helmink single brought in Crenshaw. Kristi Carlson brought in Taylor Mowery to give SHU a two run lead heading into the final two innings of action. SHU was able to keep the Racers scoreless to earn the 2-0 victory.
Catcher Amy Nordstrom went 2-for-3 to lead the Saints while Helmink and Carlson each earned an RBI for SHU. Lexi Agers also went 1-for-1 for Siena Heights. Four different Racers earned a hit while being shutout on the scoreboard.
Earning the win in the circle for SHU (12-8, 4-2 WHAC) was Racquel Ward, striking out four and only walking one. Aubrey Brunst suffered the loss for the Racers, allowing five hits and two runs as she struck out one Saint.
The second game began with early runs as both team tacked on a run in the first inning. The Racers added one in the top of the second and shutout the Saints in the bottom of the second. Two runs in the third put the Racers up 4-1 as a diving play from second baseman Helmink helped end the inning. A base hit by Kris Forest followed by a triple from Ward trimmed the UNOH lead to 4-2 to end the third.
Northwestern Ohio (19-5, 5-1 WHAC) pushed two more runs across in the top of the fourth. SHU answered by two singles followed by a wild pitch to bring Taylor Mowery home, trimming the UNOH lead to 6-3. Another two-run inning by the Racers gave them an 8-3 advantage at the end fifth. The Racers tallied four runs in the sixth inning to give them a 12-3 lead that would end it in six.
Forest went 3-for-3 for SHU while Crenshaw and Mowery each went 2-for-3 for Siena Heights. Going 3-for-3 for the Racers was Kayla Ward, also tacking on an RBI and two runs. Three more Racers earned two hits or more as UNOH outhit SHU, 14-9.
Taking the loss for SHU was Ward, pitching 4.1 innings while allowing 10 and eight runs, only four of them earned. Lauren Best relieved her in the fifth, throwing 1.1 innings and allowing three hits and runs. Closing the game for the Saints was Lauren Valdez, allowing one hit and one run. Hunter Cozelmann earned the win for UNOH, throwing five innings with nine hits and three runs. Pitching the final inning for the Racers was Brunst. One both sides, there were no strikeouts thrown.
Next up, Siena Heights will host Lawrence Tech on Friday with a 3:30 p.m. start time.