As the 2024-2025 academic year comes to a close, so do the Spring sport seasons. Tuesday, the Marian University Ancilla Softball team took to the field for their final home games of the year, falling 5-2 and 4-1 to Kalamazoo Valley Community College in an MCCAA conference double-header. The twin bill was originally scheduled for 4/25 but got moved due to weather. Below is a quick glimpse at some highlights from the afternoon's games.

GAME-1 (L 5-2): The Cougars got on the board first, scoring a run in the top of the 2nd inning, but Marian Ancilla answered back in the bottom of the inning. Freshman Kimberly Cummings singled to lead off then advanced to 2nd base on an errant throw. When fellow Freshman Hannah Carter grounded out to the 2nd baseman, Cummings then moved up a spot to 3rd base. Freshman Tennley Werner hit a fly ball to left field, and Cummings was able to tag up and score on the sacrifice fly.

Two innings later, Kalamazoo Valley tallied 3 more runs on a string of singles to go ahead 4-1. The Chargers again answered in the bottom of the inning, as Freshman Cayla Beasley singled to lead off the bottom of the 4th, then worked her way around to score on a Werner ground ball single to right field, cutting it to 4-2. But that's all the Chargers would get, while the Cougars would add an insurance run in the top of the 5th inning for the final 5-2 margin. Sophomore Samantha Hoffman (0-12) pitched a solid 4 innings, striking out 3 batters, while Cummings came on to pitch the final 3 innings in relief, not allowing an earned run.

GAME-2 (L 4-1): In the second contest of the day, there is no way to describe it but odd. Neither team scored through the first 4 innings, though Marian Ancilla had 7 hits while the Cougars were hitless over that stretch. Then, in the top of the 5th inning, Kalamazoo Valley utilized a single, a triple, and an error to go ahead 3-0. In the bottom of the 5th inning, the Chargers answered when Sophomore Abigail Heaston singled to lead off the inning, then advanced a base on each of the next two outs. Kimberly Cummings stepped up and smacked a line drive to center, allowing Heaston to cross home plate, trimming the KVCC lead to 3-1. But that's all the Chargers would get in Game-2.

Kalamazoo Valley would go on to add another run in the top of the 7th inning, using another error and a double to come across to score. For the game, the Chargers out-hit the Cougars, 9-3, but there was only 1 run to show for it, and 2 fielding errors contributed to Cougar scoring. Cummings (4-8) pitched a complete 7-inning game, striking out 7 and allowing just 1 earned run on 3 hits and a walk.

The Chargers finish their season this Saturday (5/3), as they head to Lansing Community College for a double-header with the MCCAA Western Division leading Stars. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m., so please come out and support the ladies in their final appearances of the year, if you are able!!