The Marian University Ancilla Softball team began their season yesterday with a trio of games in Tucson, Arizona, home of the Tucson Invitational Games. The Chargers got off to a tough start, but they improved throughout the day, eventually claiming their first victory of the season in the third contest. Below are some highlights from each of the three games.
GAME-1 (L 15-5): The Chargers began their day against the Junior Varsity team from Madonna University, an NAIA school in Michigan. Madonna's bats were strong, knocking in 15 runs in just 4 team at-bats. Their biggest inning was an 11-run bottom of the 3rd. MUAC Freshman Cayla Beasley drove in a run on a single in the top of the 1st inning. The Chargers then drove in 4 runs in the top of the 3rd inning to take a 5-1 lead. Freshman Hannah Carter drove in a run on a double for Marian Ancilla, followed by a single by Freshman Morgan Fogle that plated another run. During the next at-bat, Carter scored on an error by the shortstop, and then Freshman Madison Roach laid down a nice sacrifice bunt to first base, scoring Fogle. Freshman pitcher Kimberly Cummings (0-1) earned the decision for this game.
GAME-2 (L 4-3): The second game of the day was a heart-breaker for Marian Ancilla, as they fell to Miles Community College from Arizona, 4-3. The Chargers scored a run in the bottom of the 3rd inning to lead 1-0. Then, trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the 6th inning with Hannah Carter at the plate, Cayla Beasley scored on a passed ball by the catcher to even it at 2-2. On the next pitch, Carter hit a hard ground ball to center field, and Kimberly Cummings scored, giving the Chargers a 3-2 lead with one inning to play. In the top of the 7th, however, a combination of 2 singles, an error, and a pair of walks allowed Miles to get those 2 runs back and ultimately win, 4-3. Cummings (0-2) once again earned the decision in the circle. Starting pitcher, Sophomore Samantha Hoffman, pitched 6 1/3 strong innings.
GAME-3 (W 9-6): In the finale, the Chargers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to the same Miles C.C. team, providing fireworks in the middle innings to secure their first win of the season, 9-6. MUAC scoring started when Freshman Tennley Werner hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Kimberly Cummings, tying it at 1-1 in the 2nd inning. In the top of the 4th inning it was Werner again, singling to center this time, again scoring Cummings. Two batters later, Sophomore Avery Mason grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring Hannah Carter, and it was tied, 3-3. In the top of the 5th, Morgan Fogle led off with a single, advanced all the way to 3rd base on a passed ball, then later scored on a wild pitch, again knotting the game, this time at 4-4. Hannah Carter then singled to score Cummings, and Mason singled to score Carter, and it was now 6-4 Chargers. In the top of the 6th inning, Marian Ancilla got their final three runs and took a 9-4 advantage. Cayla Beasley drove in Sophomore Abigail Heaston on a single, then Werner capped off her great game by driving in Beasley and Fogle on a line drive single to center. The Chargers had to hold off Miles, as they got a run in the bottom of the 6th and another in the bottom of the 7th for the final tally of 9-6. For the third straight game, Cummings (1-2) earned the decision. Samantha Hoffman pitched 5 more solid innings in relief.
The Chargers continue their Spring Break trip tomorrow, Tuesday, when they face Miles one more time at 11:00 a.m. ET, followed by an afternoon tilt with Chandler-Gilbert Community College at 3:30 p.m. ET. They will end their trip on Thursday with two more games, then head back for their first home game on Tuesday, March 18th. Good luck, Chargers!!
