Pride pick up first victory of 2025 in Sunday split
DAVENPORT, Iowa - In a return trip back down to the Ambrose Dome for the second-straight day, the Clarke University softball team earned a win and suffered a loss on Sunday evening with a 14-4 run-rule victory over Viterbo University and a 3-0 loss to St. Ambrose University.
In their first game of the day, the Pride exacted a bit of revenge with the offense taking much more advantage of their scoring opportunities compared to yesterday's game against the V-Hawks as CU would only leave four runners on base over the entirety of the game, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the first, two in the second, and four-spot in the fourth.
The scoring in the eight-run first inning got started by a two-RBI double by freshman Lauren Hefel before Oakleigh Harmon and Taryn Hoffman both drew bases loaded walks then Kaylie Holtam also drove in a pair with a single to center field as Harlee Makue-Vasconcellos reached first on an error that would score two more runs to get Clarke up 8-0 after an inning.
Later in the game, Mya Durr, Kendall Kasput, Holtam, and Makue-Vasconcellos would all produce RBI hits to get the Pride back to an eight-run then 10-run lead to create the opportunity to end the game early via the run rule.
A slight lineup change from head coach Garland Shirley slit Holtam to the leadoff spot in the batting order as she shined at the top going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored while everyone in the lineup reached base at least once, all but one starter recorded a hit, and only two players in the lineup scored at least a run.
Those 14 runs were plenty of support for Payge Pyszka who would pick up her first win of the season with a five-inning performance that saw the junior from Peru, Ill. give up four earned runs on 10 hits and three walks with one strikeout.
The offense couldn't keep up their momentum into their weekend's finale as they were shutout by the Fighting Bees while recording five hits and leaving 11 runners on base as their best opportunity to get runs on the board came in the top of the fifth when they loaded the bases with two outs but SAU would get out of the jam forcing a fielder's choice ground out.
St. Ambrose scored a single run in each of the first three innings off of Meredith Gattos as she wouldn't find the type of success in the circle she had on Saturday, setting a new school record for strikeouts in a game with 14, only able to pitch 2.1 innings allowing all three earned runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts, pitching through a bit of a finger injury.
Freshman Hannah Peña came in to pitch in relief of Gatto as she would produce 3.2 scoreless innings of work allowing only two hits and one walk while striking out a batter.
Clarke softball will be off for a bit of time before they get back into game action when they travel to Aurora, Ill. for another dome doubleheader against Trinity Christian College on Wednesday, Feb. 26 with the first pitch of game one set for 10:00 a.m. CT.