Softball splits on final day of D9 Sunkissed Games

Saturday, March 11 - The Muskingum softball team split on the final day of the D9 Sunkissed Games beating Wheaton (Mass.) 12-1 in five innings and dropping a 6-0 decision to Rowan in Kissimmee, Florida.

Against Wheaton (Mass.), Muskingum tallied 12 runs on 13 hits. Freshman Karsyn Shaffer went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Junior Krissy Hughes went 2-for-4, senior Haylea Debolt, went 2-for-4 with a team-high four RBIs, junior Rachel Eberling went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and sophomore Jolyn Shunk went 2-for-4 with each player also adding one run scored. Freshman Hannah Duff pitched a complete game and registered a season-high six strikeouts, allowing just one run and two walks from the circle to record the win.  

In the contest with Rowan, junior Eberling recorded the loss, pitched in 5.0 innings, allowed six runs on six hits, and collected two strikeouts, while Debolt came in as the reliever and pitched the final two innings. Shaffer led the Muskies at the plate by going 2-for-3.

Muskingum returns to action Saturday, March 17 as they face non-conference opponent Thomas More on the road. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.

Friday, March 10 - The Muskingum softball team won its 10th straight victory as they topped Bridgewater (Va.) 7-0 and Defiance 10-8 on Friday at the D9 Sunkissed Games in Kissimmee, Florida. The last time Muskingum has started off the season with 10 plus straight wins was during the 1998 season.

In the game against Bridgewater (Va.), Muskingum plated seven runs on 13 hits. Freshman Karsyn Shaffer and junior Krissy Hughes both went 3-for-4 at the plate, with Shaffer adding two runs scored and Hughes collecting three runs scored. Junior Jaelyn Meade went 2-for-3 at the plate and tallied one RBI, while junior Rachel Eberling went 2-for-4 at the plate and notched one RBI. Freshman pitcher Hannah Duff tossed the win for the Muskies after seeing action in 6.0 innings, while freshman Gabrielle McNeil came in as the reliever in the final inning.

Against Defiance, Muskingum plated 10 runs on 16 hits. Shaffer went 4-for-4 at the plate, including a double, gathered two RBIs, and one run scored, while Meade also went 4-for-4 at the plate, including a double, and notched two RBIs. In addition, senior Melissa Maiorano smashed her second homer of the season, and produced two RBIs and two runs scored, while senior Haylea Debolt went 2-for-3 at the plate, tallied three RBIs, and one run scored. Relief pitcher McNeil came into the contest at an 8-8 tie in the bottom of the sixth to collect her first win from the circle

Muskingum closes out its spring break trip on Saturday, March 10 as they take on Wheaton (Mass.) and Rowan at the D9 Sunkissed Games. Game time is set for 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. and will feature live stats. 

Thursday, March 8 – The Muskingum softball team continues to play red hot as they have won eight straight games after winning 3-2 against Simmons and 7-2 against Aurora on Thursday at the D9 Sunkissed Games in Kissimmee, Florida. 

Simmons took the early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Muskingum scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth off a triple from Jaelyn Meade who brought in Jolyn Shunk and Alexia Dowdle across the plate to tie the game at 2-2. Pinch runner Caitlyn Huth scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh to seal the 3-2 victory for Muskingum. The Muskies' ended the contest with three runs scored on four hits. Senior Melissa Maiorano led the team at the plate by going 2-for-3, while freshman Jaelyn Meade led the squad with two RBIs. Senior Haylea Debolt played in 3.0 innings, while freshman reliever Hannah Duff saw action in 4.0 innings to get the win in the circle to hold a 4-0 record.

Against Aurora, Muskingum scored seven runs on seven hits. The Muskies scored five runs in the top of the third inning, with Maiorano blasting a grand slam. Maiorano led the team with four RBIs, while junior Krissy Hughes scored two runs, and sophomore Jennifer Schrader went 2-for-4 at the plate. Junior pitcher Rachel Eberling collected five strikeouts and played all seven innings from the circle.

Muskingum next plays Bridgewater (Va.) and Defiance on Friday, March 9 at the D9 Sunkissed Games. Game time is set for 11:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and will feature live stats.

Tuesday, March 6 – The Muskingum softball team won its sixth game in a row after beating Alfred 3-0 and Westminster (Pa.) 6-2 on Tuesday at the D9 Sunkissed Games in Kissimmee, Florida.

Against Alfred, the two teams were at a 0-0 deadlock heading into the top of the fourth inning. In the bottom of the fourth, junior Krissy Hughes blasted a two-run homer to get the Muskies to a 2-0 lead. At the bottom of the sixth, Haylea Debolt notched a single to right field to bring home freshman Karsyn Shaffer for the run scored. Shaffer went 2-for-3 at the plate and added two runs scored, while Hughes collected two RBIs. Junior Rachel Eberling played spectacular from the circle as she produced a no hitter, four strikeouts, and allowed just one walk.   

In the game against Westminster, the Muskingum offense scored six runs on seven hits and registered five RBIs. Shaffer went 2-for-4 at the plate and had one RBI, while Hughes also went 2-for-4 at the plate and notched two RBIs. Freshman pitcher Hannah Duff played in 6.0 innings to win her third game from the circle, while recording two strikeouts. Senior Haylea Debolt saw action in 1.0 innings from the circle and added one strikeout.

Muskingum next plays Simmons and Aurora on Thursday, March 8 at the D9 Sunkissed Games. Game time is set for 3:45 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and will feature live stats.

Monday, March 5 -  The Muskies winning streak continues after rolling past Widener and Penn St.-Berks on Monday at the D9 Sunkissed Games in Kissimmee, Florida. Muskingum controlled game one by winning 11-3 against Widener and secured the 13-4 victory against Penn St.-Berks.

In game one, Muskingum scored 11 runs on 13 hits and garnered 10 RBIs. Senior Haylea Debolt went 3-for-4 at the plate, notched two runs scored, and tallied a team-best four RBIs. Junior Rachel Eberling went 2-for-3 at the plate, collected three RBIs, and two runs scored. Junior Krissy Hughes went 2-for-2 at the plate, produced three runs scored, and one RBI. In the circle, Eberling recorded her second win of the season after registering four strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work.

Against Penn St.-Berks, the Muskies scored 13 runs on 21 hits and accrued 13 RBIs. Eberling played fantastic for the Muskies as she went 4-for-5 at the plate, including one homer and two doubles, tallied a team-high five RBIs, and added one run scored. Hughes added three RBIs, a double, and one run scored. Debolt chipped in two RBIs, two runs scored, and a double. In the circle, freshman Hannah Duff saw action in 4.0 inning, allowing just one run and three hits to take her second win this season. Freshman Gabrielle McNeil also played 3.0 innings from the circle and tossed three strikeouts.

Muskingum next plays Alfred and Westminster (Pa.) at the D9 Sunkissed Games on Tuesday, March 6. Game time is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. and will feature live stats.

Sunday, March 4 - The Muskingum softball team came out victorious in both games to start the 2018 season at the D9 Sunkissed Games in Kissimmee, Florida. The Muskies won its season opener against Misericordia, 8-7, and dominated against Saint Joseph's (Me.), 15-2 (five innings).

In the season opener, Muskingum scored eight runs on 14 hits. Senior Melissa Maiorano went 3-for-4 at the plate and led the Muskies with two RBIs. Freshman Karsyn Shaffer had quite the outing as she went a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate, gathered three runs scored, and one RBI. Junior Krissy Hughes also added two hits for Muskingum. Rachel Eberling earned the win in the circle, pitching a complete game with four strikeouts.

During the Saint Joseph's (Me.) game, the Muskies scored 15 runs on 19 hits. Sophomore Jolyn Shunk went 3-for-4 at the plate, and led the team with three runs scored, two doubles, and three RBIs. Freshman Sarah Aispuro and senior Haylea Debolt also added two RBI' each. Senior Nikki Mantle, freshman Jaelyn Meade, Maiorano, and Debolt each notched a double, while Shaffer and Hughes each blasted a triple. Freshman pitcher Hannah Duff saw action in four innings, allowed two runs (one earned), and added a strikeout, while Debolt played in one inning and tallied three strikeouts.

Muskingum next plays Widener and Penn St.-Berks on Monday, March 5. Game time is set for 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and will feature live stats.