Pride pick up first Heart win of 2023 with doubleheader split at Benedictine

ATCHISON, Kan. - Getting back to Heart of America Athletic Conference play for the first time in over a week, the Clarke University softball team earned a doubleheader split on the road with an 8-6 game one win that was followed by an 8-0 loss on Sunday afternoon.

After opening up the game one scoring with a Mya Durr two-run home run, the first of the freshman's career, a five-run third inning helped the Pride jump out to a 7-1 lead after two and a half innings.

In that third inning, Daija Bates, Kaylie Holtam, and Kynadee Harris all drove in runs with Bates driving in one with an RBI double and Holtam producing a two-RBI double before a ground out from Harris drove in a run and they scored the final run of the inning on a wild pitch.

That run production was enough when it's usually plenty for CU ace Malarie Huseman in the circle as the Ravens mounted a bit of a comeback to get two of their own in the third, another in the fifth, and two more in the seventh after Clarke added a run from a Lily King steal of second and an error allowing her to score.

Of the six runs allowed by Huseman, only four were earned as she moved her 2023 season record to 5-4 as she struck out three BC batters.

Benedictine's Kera Willoughby started both games in the circle for the Ravens as she picked up the decision in both games and faired much better in the second game with a six-inning complete game, allowing just three hits to the Pride.

Clarke softball will remain on the road for two more doubleheaders next week in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday at Iowa Wesleyan before returning to Heart action at Graceland on Friday.