Softball advances past No. 25 Mount Union to stay alive in OAC Tournament

The Muskingum softball team advanced past the 25th-ranked Mount Union Purple Raiders by a score of 7-6 to continue their run in the OAC Tournament.

OAC Tournament

The winner of the double elimination tournament will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship.

The Basics

• Records: Muskingum (28-12 overall), Mount Union (32-8 overall)
• Location: Alliance, Ohio - 23rd Street Softball Field
• Attendance: 128

How It Happened

• The Muskies struck first in the top of the third inning, when freshman Natalie Smith singled through the middle to bring senior Kalie Eshelman home from third base.
• Muskingum continued the offensive onslaught in the third by way of sophomore Eliana Shaheen singling to center field that allowed freshman Tareyn Born to score. The Muskies brought in one more run in the inning after freshman Kenzie Standerfer sent another single through to left field that brought home N. Smith.
• The Purple Raiders would respond with a few hits in the bottom of the third, which included a two-run home run to knott the score up at 3-3.
• In the top of the fourth inning, the Muskies would retake the lead by way of good base-running by sophomore Cara Taylor, who advanced home on a ground ball to the pitcher. Muskingum would add to this inning as N. Smith continued her impressive day by drilling an RBI double into right center field. 
• Mount Union found a run in the top of the fifth inning by way of a solo home run shot over left field.
• In the top of the sixth inning, another N. Smith double would help the Muskies tack on two more runs. 
• The Purple Raiders would add two runs in the bottom of the sixth by way of an error and wild pitch. 

Inside the Numbers

• The Muskies finished with seven runs, 15 hits, seven RBI's, and were walked once.
• N. Smith led the Muskingum offense in the high-octane contest. She fired off two doubles on three hits that helped her have four RBI's. A truly incredible performance at the plate, as she also scored one run.
• S. Smith ended the game with three hits, one RBI, and one run scored. 
• Born finished with two hits and two runs scored.
• Taylor launched two hits and scored once.
• Eshelman logged one hit and found home plate twice. 
• Shaheen and Standerfer added one hit and one RBI.
• Senior Rosie Hayes rounded out the Muskie bats with one hit.
• Senior Madelyn Thomas went six innings for the Muskies in the circle. She faced 33 batters while only giving up eight hits with one strikeout.
• Freshman Tareyn Born came in for relief to close out the last inning for the Muskies. She struck out one of the three batters in her one inning of work.

Up Next

• The Muskies will be back in action, when they will continue their push through the OAC Tournament by taking on the Ohio Northern Polar Bears. The winner of Muskingum vs. Ohio Northern will play in the OAC Championship game against Baldwin Wallace, with the Yellow Jackets needing to lose two games.