Softball Splits A Pair at Madonna, Drops Completed Halted Game With Concordia

Softball Splits A Pair at Madonna, Drops Completed Halted Game With Concordia

The Siena Heights Softball Team travelled to Madonna and came away with a split in WHAC play.  The Saints also finished up a halted game with Concordia, with the game ending in the same score of 7-2 with the Saints dropping that contest as well.

In game one at Madonna, a solo run in the first inning was plated when Ashley Helmink singled to lead off the game, moved to second on a wild pitch, then scored when a wild throw sailed into left field and virtually to the fence. 

The game would remain 1-0 until the fourth when Helmink stepped to the plate with two runners on, and two outs and blasted a homerun over the centerfield fence to score three.  Madonna came back with three of their own runs in the bottom of the 6th, but was held scoreless in the 7th for the 4-3 win.

Helmink had the two hits, two runs, and three RBI to pace the Saints.  Taylor Mowery added two hits, with Kris Forest, Skylar Crenshaw and Jordan Bianchi adding hits, Crenshaw's hit was a double.  Racquel Ward threw the complete game scattering nine hits and striking out two.  She allowed only two earned runs on the game.

In game two, Madonna got ahead with two runs in the first, the Saints tied it up in the second, before Madonna plated three in their half of the second inning.  The Saints tallied one more run in the third before allowing solo runs in the 4th and 5th for the Crusaders.

Leading the way offensively was Ward who had three hits.  Helmink added two more hits, with Mowery, Kelsey Cherry, Hayley Turk, and Bianchi also notching hits.  Bianchi had a double and two RBI, with Ward driving in the other Saints run.

Taking the loss on the mound was Lauren Best.  Lauren Valdez threw 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.

After the doubleheader, the Saints jumped back on the bus and headed 20 minutes down the road to Ann Arbor, to finish up the halted game from April 18th with Concordia.  The game was resumed in the bottom of the fourth inning and played to completion.  Heading into the game, the score was 7-2 in Concordia's favor, and ended the same way.

For the game, only four hits were mustered by the Saints offense.  Forest had two hits including a two run homerun.  Ward and Crenshaw added the other hits for the Saints.

Valdez started the game on Wednesday, throwing the first three innings allowing four earned runs and striking out five.  Ward came in and finished the game out tonight, throwing three perfect innings striking out one.

The Saints will return to action on Sunday when the square off with Aquinas at home with a 1 pm doubleheader.