The Marian University Ancilla Softball team began a long weekend of six games in three days when they traveled to Kalamazoo Valley Community College Friday afternoon. The Chargers, improved from a season ago, jumped out to early leads in each game of Friday's double-header, only to see the lead slip away in the middle innings, losing 8-5 and 8-3. Below is a quick recap of yesterday's games.

GAME-1 (L 8-5): The Chargers began the day with a run in the top of the 1st inning, as Sophomore Abigail Heaston scored in a steal of home plate, giving Marian Ancilla the 1-0 lead. In the top of the 3rd inning, Freshman Kimberly Cummings singled to centerfield, as Sophomore Sofie Francis and Freshman Morgan Fogle came around to score and it was 3-0 MUAC at that point.

The Cougars would then score 4 runs in the bottom of the 4th, taking a 4-3 advantage. In the top of the 5th inning, Freshman Hannah Carter stepped to the plate and knocked a ground ball single to center, scoring fellow Freshman Cayla Beasley, tying the game at 4-4. But the Cougars found 3 more runs in the bottom of the 5th and 1 in the bottom of the 6th, and it was suddenly 8-4 Kalamazoo Valley.

With 2 outs in the top of the 7th inning, Cummings delivered a solo home run to centerfield, trimming the lead to 8-5. Carter and Freshman Tennley Werner would then each single, but the Chargers couldn't plate either before time ran out. Sophomore Samantha Hoffman (0-5) recorded the loss, but she pitched well and only allowed 1 earned run through 4 innings. Cummings struck out 5 batters in her 2 innings of relief.

GAME-2 (L 8-3): Marian Ancilla would once again score the first run of the game, as Morgan Fogle hit a 2-out double in the top of the 3rd inning, followed by a Cayla Beasley single, scoring Fogle, and it was 1-0 Chargers. Kalamazoo Valley again scored in the 4th (2 runs), 5th (2 runs), and 6th (4 runs) innings for a second consecutive game, pulling out the 8-3 win in this one.

The Chargers got their second run in the top of the 5th inning, as Abigail Heaston led off the inning with a double, and Beasley once again singled home the runner. Marian Ancilla's third run came in the top of the 7th, when Fogle took the first pitch of the inning and smacked a home run over the centerfield fence for the Chargers' final tally.

Kimberly Cummings opened the game in the pitching circle for the Chargers, she worked 4 innings, and she struck out 9 batters while only allowing 2 runs, neither of which were earned. Samantha Hoffman (0-6) was once again on the hook for the loss, working 1 1/3 innings of relief.

The Chargers now must return to the diamond today, Saturday (4/12/25), for a home double-header against Lake Michigan College. They then head to Glen Oaks tomorrow for a third consecutive day, taking on the Vikings this time. Games both days begin at 1:00 p.m., with the second matchup of each day beginning sometime around 3:00 p.m. Please come out and support the ladies, if you are able!!