WATERTOWN, Wis. – After an unusual seven-run rally fell short in an 11-8 game one defeat, the Edgewood College softball team offense came alive with a season-high 12 hits and starting pitcher Shannon Whitmus dominated with 12 strikeouts in 12-3 game two victory at Maranatha Baptist University in their final non-conference doubleheader of the season on Friday afternoon.
The Eagles (4-26) allowed the Sabercats to jump out to an 8-1 advantage through the first four innings, but rallied in an unconventional way in the seventh. A patient Eagle offense countered with seven runs on zero hits to tie it up at 8 apiece. The strange rally included five walks, one hit by pitch, and one sacrifice fly, all with the bases loaded.
Bases were juiced often as the Eagles left a season-high 11 runners on base.
Maranatha's Harmony Bail drove the Sabercat offense with a two-run single and later scored on a wild pitch to cap the decisive three-run sixth inning and pull away 11-8.
On the game, the Eagles finished with three hits and a season-high 14 walks. It was the most walks by an Eagle team since drawing nine free passes against Maranatha (7-19) on April 17, 2014.
Alyssa Hickey stole a base for the fifth-straight game and led a running attack that swiped a season-high five bases.
The Eagle offense put on a show in game two and lit up the Sabercats in their biggest victory of the year, 12-3, in the night cap. A steady force throughout, they scored at least two runs in four different innings.
Centerfielder Grace Delleman added three hits and a season-high three runs and three RBI to lead an Eagle offense that saw eight players register a hit. Third baseman Hanna Parisi also earned three hits, scored twice, and drove in two RBI.
The Eagles posted a season-high 12 hits and now have at least eight hits in each of their four victories this year. They also drew eight walks to only four strikeouts and took advantage of four Sabercat errors to plate six unearned runs.
Starting pitcher Shannon Whitmus (4-20) did her part with her first triple of the season at the plate and silenced the Sabercat bats on the mound with a career-high 12 strikeouts in her seventh start of at least 7.0 innings. The Verona, Wis. native only surrendered six hits and three runs in the win.
Next up for the Eagles is a matchup with NACC leader Concordia Wisconsin tomorrow, Saturday, April 22 at 12:00 p.m.
