SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College women's softball team split a doubleheader against the Bulldogs of Benedictine University-Springfield on Tuesday afternoon. The Pomeroys won the first game 12-3 and fell 4-2 in the second game. Before the loss in game number two, SMWC had won seven straight games, its highest win streak of the season.
SMWC 12 Benedictine-Springfield 3
The Pomeroys would be the first to jump on the scoreboard, plating two runs in the top of the first. After a Carly Painter single and a passed ball that advanced Shelby Barnett to first base, a single up the middle by Sarah Burnham scored Painter for the 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Brooke Jordan would hit a sacrifice fly to score Barnett and give the Pomeroys a 2-0 lead.
SMWC would come up huge in the second when they were able to score six runs across the plate. The inning began with a leadoff double by Kimberly Strattman. Ciara McClain would follow with a single to shallow left-center. Rebecca Latta would get on base with a batted ball to the Bulldogs' third basemen. However, a wild throw by Benedictine-Springfield's third baseman allowed Strattman to score and advanced Latta and McClain to second and third base. Painter would then hit an RBI single, stole second base, and eventually scored on an RBI single by Burnham. Shelby Turner would groundout, but was able to bring Barnett home off the batted ball. Two more runs would score to round out the inning and the Pomeroys led comfortably 8-0 after two innings.
The Bulldogs (13-18) would plate three runs of their own in the bottom of the third before the Pomeroys would respond with two more runs in the top of the fourth and sixth. With the mercy rule enforced, the game ended in six innings.
In 6.0 innings pitched, SMWC's Brooke Jordan (9-4) finished with 8 strikeouts, 2 walks, and 3 earned runs.
Benedictine-Springfield 4 SMWC 2
Just as the first game, the Pomeroys would jump out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. An RBI double to deep right-center by SMWC's Jordan would score Burnham and Turner to give the Pomeroys the early advantage.
Neither team would score again until the bottom of the third when the Bulldogs would score four runs to take a 4-2 lead. Benedictine-Springfield (14-18) would bring seven batters to the plate in the inning. The first three batters included a walk, single, and hit-by-pitch to load the bases for the Bulldogs. Benedictine Springfield's Monica DeVault would then hit a grand slam off a 1-1 count, giving the hosts a two run lead.
The Pomeroys would threaten in the top of the seventh after a Painter double with one out and the tying run up to bat. A Barnett strikeout and a Burnham groundout would end the threat and the game for SMWC.
In 6.0 innings pitched, SMWC's Sarah Burnham (7-4) finished with 6 strikeouts, 1 walk, and 4 earned runs.
The Pomeroys have now won seven of their last eight games and now have a record of 16-8. Weather permitting, the Pomeroys are scheduled to play again on Thursday in a doubleheader with Hanover College. The first game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start and will be played on the campus of SMWC.
