Softball finishes 7-3 at the Spring Games

Friday, March 10 – The Muskingum softball team split a pair of games on their last day at The Spring Games in Winter Haven, Florida. Muskingum defeated Carnegie Mellon, 9-3 and dropped game two against Penn State-Behrend, 7-6.

Against Carnegie Mellon, the Muskies plated nine runs off 12 hits. Senior Hannah Smith improved to 5-0 on the season and tallied 10 strikeouts. Offensively, the Muskies were led by Freshman Nicole Young who finished 3-for-4 at the plate and had an RBI. Senior Carlee Lamacz and Freshman Kennedy Cauger each hit a home run to pace the Muskingum offense. Senior Haley Hawk added one hit and an RBI, while freshman Sadie Smith, junior Kalie Eshelman, and senior Taylor Gallentine added one hit and an RBI for the Muskies en route to the 9-3 victory.

Against Penn State-Behrend, Muskingum plated six runs off 12 hits. Junior Madelyn Thomas tossed 4.2 innings of work and fired five strikeouts. At the plate, Muskingum was led by senior Sarah Piteo, Haley Hawk, freshman Nicole Young, and freshman Taylor Stemmerding who each tallied two hits. Hawk and Stemmerding also knocked a runner in.  Junior Rose Hayes smashed a three-run home run, while senior Claire Guilliams hit a solo-home run.

As a team, Muskingum finished the week with 95 hits and six home runs, while also stealing 20 bases. In the circle, the Muskie pitching staff had an ERA of 2.19, while also tossing 64 strikeouts.

The Muskies are back in action on Wednesday, March 22, when they host Denison in its home-opener. The first pitch for game one is scheduled for a 3:30 PM start from Donna J. Newberry Field.

Thursday, March 9 – The Muskingum softball team erupted for a total of 21 hits en route to a doubleheader sweep on Thursday afternoon at the Spring Games. Muskingum defeated Aurora in tight, 4-3 battle and knocked of Lebanon Valley 7-3.

Against Aurora, Muskingum plated four runs off of seven hits. Senior Hannah Smith fired seven innings and tallied eight strikeouts. Freshman Daytaviah Rodgers secured her first save of the season in the circle for the Muskies. At the plate, the Muskies were led by junior Kalie Eshelman who notched a home run and knocked in two RBIs. Senior Carlee also added one hit and an RBI as well. Freshman Cara Taylor, senior Claire Gilliams, senior Haley Hawk, freshman Nicole Young, and freshman Taylor Stemmerding each added a hit to contribute to the Muskingum offense.

Against Lebanon Valley, Muskingum scored seven runs off 14 hits. Junior Madelyn Thomas earned the win in the circle for the Muskies pitching seven innings and firing six strikeouts. Cara Taylor led the Muskingum bats going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Junior Rosie Hayes finished with two hits and knocked in two runs, while Haley Hawk and Claire Guilliams added an RBI apiece to secure the Muskingum victory.

Tuesday, March 7 – The Muskingum softball team earned a split on the third day of The Spring Games in Jan Phyl Village, Florida. The Muskies recorded a 2-0 win against Emmanuel (Mass.) and dropped a nail-biter to Johnson & Wales (RI) 2-1, in the night cap.

Against Emmanuel, the Muskies scored two runs off four hits in a pitching dual between senior Hannah Smith and the Saints Tianna Dawe. Smith continues to have a solid start to the season as she earned her third win in the circle for the Muskies. Smith pitched all seven innings and fired seven strike outs en route to a 2-0 Muskie victory. At the plate, the Muskies were led by freshman Nicole Young who recorded one hit and an RBI. Freshman Cara Taylor, freshman Taylor Stemmerding, and senior Haley Hawk each added a hit to pace the Muskie bats.

In the Johnson & Wales game, Muskingum scored one run off eight hits. The Muskies got a runner on first in the seventh, but unfortunately couldn't get the tying run to cross the plate.  Junior Madelyn Thomas tossed all seven innings and tallied six strike outs. The Muskies were led by Kalie Eshelman who recorded one hit and one RBI. Senior Haley Hawk notched two hits while, senior Carlee Lamacz, junior Rosie Hayes, Cara Taylor, and Nicole Young added on hit apiece.

Muskingum is back is back in action on Thursday, March 9, in doubleheader action against Aurora at 9:00 AM and Lebanon Valley at 11:30 AM from Winter Haven, Florida.

Monday, March 6 -The Muskingum softball team split a pair of games at the Spring Games on Monday afternoon. The Muskies picked up a dominating 9-0 victory over Thomas (ME) before falling to Penn St.-Berks, 5-3.

In the Thomas game, Muskingum plated nine runs off 12 hits. Senior Hannah Smith tossed a no-hitter and struck out seven in five innings of work for the Muskies. Offensively, Muskingum was led by freshman Nicole Young, who went 2-for-3 with a single and a three-run home run. Junior Kalie Eshelman finished with two hits and two RBIs, while freshman Taylor Stemmerding also notched two hits and one RBI. Senior Sarah Piteo and junior Rosie Hayes each added one hit and one RBI as well to pace the Muskingum bats.

Against Penn St.-Berks, Muskingum plated three runs off nine hits. Junior Madelyn Thomas pitched four innings and recorded two strikeouts. Senior Haley Hawk and Taylor Stemmerding added one hit and one RBI apiece for the Muskies. Freshman Cara Taylor and Kalie Eshelman ended the contest with two hits each.

Sunday, March 5 – Muskingum Head Coach Laina Connor earned her first career Muskie win in her inaugural game at the helm of the Muskingum softball program as the Muskies cruised to a 12-1 win over Concordia Chicago. The Muskies also defeated Hiram, 4-2 en route to an opening day sweep at The Spring Games.

In the season opener, the Muskies scored 12 runs off 12 hits. Senior Hannah Smith notched her first win of the season tossing 6.0 innings, while also tallying six strikeouts. Junior Rosie Hayes fueled the Muskie offense finishing 3-for-4 at the plate while also adding four RBIs. Freshman Nicole Young added two hits and two RBIs, while freshman Taylor Stemmerding added one hit and an RBI. Seniors Haley Hawk and Sarah Piteo added one RBI as well.

Against Hiram, Muskingum scored four runs off five hits. Junior Madelyn Thomas racked up her first win of the season for the Muskies firing 5.2 innings of work, while also tallying five strikeouts. Junior Kalie Eshleman led the Muskingum offense with one hit and two RBIs, while Taylor Gallentine added one hit and an RBI. Freshman Cara Taylor ended the outing with two hits, while senior Carlee Lamacz ended the contest with one hit.