24th-ranked softball splits day at Pioneer Classic

The 24th-ranked Muskingum softball team split their two games today at the Pioneer Classic in Elizabethtown Kentucky, on Saturday. Muskingum fell to Illinois Wesleyan 8-3 in game one and compiled 20 hits to defeat Hanover 13-7 in game two.

The Basics - Game 1

Records: Muskingum (8-3), Illinois Wesleyan (5-5)

Location: Elizabethtown Sports Park – Elizabethtown, Ky.

Inside the Numbers

• Muskingum finished with three runs on seven hits.
• Senior Haley Hawk led the Muskies with three hits, which included a double and home run. She also chipped in an RBI.
•  Junior Sarah Piteo added a home run and RBI.
• Junior Claire Warschauer finished the contest with a hit and chipped in an RBI.
• Senior Hannah Smith was dealt with the loss pitching three innings of work. 
• Ava Khoury guided the Titans with two hits and two RBIs.  

How it happened

• Illinois Wesleyan struck first off back-to-back extra-base hits giving them an early 2-0 advantage in the first inning. 
• The Muskies strung together two hits in the second to plate their first run of the game, cutting down the Titan lead to one. Illinois Wesleyan still held a 2-1 lead after two innings of play.
• The Titans used a two-out rally in the third to plate two more, extending their lead 4-1.
• Illinois Wesleyan scored their final four runs off the contest in the sixth.
• Muskingum went on to trim down the Titan lead down to five after back-to-back home runs from Piteo and Hawk.
• The Muskies were unable to plate runs in the seventh and fell to the Titans 8-3.

The Basics – Game 2

Records: Muskingum (9-3), Hanover (5-7)

Location: Elizabethtown Sports Park – Elizabethtown, Ky. 

Inside the Numbers 

• Muskingum finished with 13 runs on 20 hits. 
• Sophomore Madelyn Thomas pitched a complete game and finished with 15 strikeouts.
• Seniors Cristianna Boggs and Haley Hawk paced the Muskie offense with three hits and an RBI apiece.
• Senior Katie Osburn, junior Mickayla Malone, Piteo, and sophomore Kalie Eshelman ended the outing with two hits and two RBIs apiece.
• Junior Taylor Gallentine rounded out the Muskie scoring efforts with two hits and an RBI.
• Sophomores Madison Johnson and Rosie Hayes added a hit to pace the Muskie bats.
• Lauren Beaman led Hanover with three hits and two RBIs. 
• Gracie Henson was dealt with the loss allowing eight runs off 12 hits.

How it happened 

• Out of the gate, Hanover took a quick 3-0 lead over the Muskies in the first inning.
• Muskingum answered back in the second inning stringing together five hits that plated four Muskies. They took a 4-3 lead.
• The Muskies continued their scoring barrage in the fourth inning plating three runs on four hits. They led 8-4 after four innings of play.
• The Muskie offense continued to stay hot throughout the game as they erupted on 20 hits to Hanover's nine.

Up Next

Muskingum wraps up the Pioneer Classic tomorrow, March 20, against Wartburg and Anderson. The Muskies take on Wartburg at 12:30 PM and Anderson at 3:00 PM.