Pair of complete games lead to a doubleheader split

MELBOURNE, Fla. – In their first pair of games in "The Sunshine State", the Clarke University softball team lost their first game against Concordia (Mich.) University 5-4 and won their second game 7-4 against Hannibal-LaGrange University.

In game one, the Cardinals scored three in the first after Shannon McAlinden scored Payton Lewis on a single. Next batter, Katie Tobias was able to reach first on a Pride error that led to two more runs coming across.

Elizabeth Leverton cut the lead to 3-2 as she brought home Lily King in the bottom of the first after a Cardinals error and hit a sacrifice fly to center in the second to score Mya Durr.

After Concordia scored twice in the fourth inning, Clarke would have one final rally in them trailing 5-2. Durr would once again start the inning on base, this time with a walk. Next batter, Emma Hodnet singled to center and after a misplay in the field allowed both runners to move up to second and third with no outs. King and Leverton drove home Durr and Hodnet to cut the lead to 5-4, but that's all Elyse Brittain would surrender to the Pride as she picked up her first save of the season.

Picking up her third win on the season, Cassidy Kane went five innings, allowing six hits, and striking out five Pride batters.

Malarie Huseman picked up her first loss on the season after pitching her fifth complete game of the season in as many starts. She would give up five hits, allowing two earned runs, and striking out two.

In game two, the Pride would do most of their damage in the second inning as they would see 10 batters come to the plate scoring six runs on four hits. Olivia Uecker, Leah Gray, Kaylie Holtam, and Kennedi LeDuff all brought home runners.

Those six runs would be all Calli Beck would need as she would also go the distance, picking up her first complete game on the season, allowing four runs on eight hits and three strikeouts.

For the Trojans, they would get RBIs from Addison Miller, Sydney Miller, Anita Kraus, and McKenzie Besinger. Catcher, Sydney Miller led the way with three of their eight hits as a team.

Sierra Adkins took her first loss on the season going all seven innings, allowing two earned runs, and striking out one Clarke batter.

Pride softball will play their next game in Melbourne on March 16th when they'll take on Aquinas College at 4:30 CST.