Bottom of the Pride's batting order excels in doubleheader losses to Iowa Wesleyan
DUBUQUE, Iowa – Taking a break from the Heart of America Conference schedule, the Clarke University softball team hosted and lost both games of the doubleheader on Wednesday evening at Veterans Memorial Park.
Unable to slow down the Tiger offense that finished the day with 23 hits, the Pride fell in final scores of 9-6 and 8-3. The highlight of game one was CU's 8-9 hitters in the batting order combined to go 5-8, as Olivia Sikora and Leah Gray were able to hit off of whomever Iowa Wesleyan committed to on the mound.
Although it was in a losing effort, freshman Payge Pyszka recorded a career-high nine strikeouts in her 5.2 innings of work. On the other side, Jordan Morthland and Abigail Thompson combined to go 6.1 innings in game one setting up Thompson to pick up her first win of the year. Thompson in her victory gave up seven hits, allowing two earned runs, and striking out three batters.
After going 2-4 with an RBI in game one, Clarke's steady shortstop Daija Bates followed it up with another 2-4, one RBI performance in game two. Pride catcher Abby Archer would be the only other Pride hitter to record two hits in game two's 8-3 defeat.
The reason for the Pride's offense not clicking in game two was Tiger junior Aspyn Harrison who pitched a complete game allowing seven hits, two earned runs, and striking out four Pride batters. On the other side, Calli Beck made her 18th start of the season and gave the Pride a chance to win going 5.2 innings, allowing six earned runs, and striking out four. Coming in relief in both games, Sydney Haas combined for 2.2 innings, four hits, one earned run, and one strikeout.
The Pride would score first in both games and held a lead for two innings in each, but in game one the Tigers would score two runs in each inning from the third until the sixth, giving themselves an 8-6 lead going into the seventh inning. In game two, instead of the Tigers scoring in almost every inning, it would be two four-run innings that led to the CU defeat. Giving fans a little bit of hope in game two, the Pride would load the bases with one out in the seventh and trailing by six runs. The rally would stall as a fielder's choice and a hard-hit ball right at the second baseman finished off the sweep.
The Pride will hit the road one final time this season as they'll square off against William Penn in a doubleheader on Friday, April 28th starting at 4:00 pm CST.