CLERMONT, FL – Pitching the best game of her collegiate career, Brieann Backus registered her first shutout to lead the University of Mary softball team to a split on the final day of their spring trip to Florida. The Marauders defeated Walsh University 1-0 before dropping a 4-0 decision to the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
A little shaky early and late, Backus dominated the middle innings. The sophomore hurler allowed just four hits and two walks in the seven-inning complete game. The Minot, ND, native also hit three batters.
Backes left the bases loaded in both the first and seventh innings but worked her way out of both jams. In the first she allowed a single and hit a batter and the defense failed to record a force out to fill the bags before recording the final out on a grounded to short.
The Marauders scored the only run they needed in the third. With one out,
Kylie Alto doubled to left.
Rebekkah Keller followed with a single to center to drive in Alto.
After Cavaliers loaded the bases again in the seventh, Backes struck out the final batter of the game on a called third strike.
Keller had two hits for Mary. Five other players had one each.
Home runs hurt the Marauders in the 4-0 loss to Missouri-St. Louis. The Tridents hit two solo home runs and scored in four different innings.
After
Taylor Lara struck out two UMSL hitters in the top of the first, Mary was poised to open the scoring in the home half of the inning. Alto and Keller walked and Mendez had an infield single to load the bases with no outs. loaded the bases with an infield single. A ground ball to third base by the next hitter resulted in a home-to-first double play. The next batter grounded out third-to-first to end the threat and the Marauders best chance of scoring in the game.
Rachel Mathhies drove in the first run of the game for the Tridents with a single to left. Two singles and a Mary error in the fifth inning doubled the UMSL lead to 2-0.
Annie Kroger homered in the sixth inning and Olson followed with a solo shot in the seventh to put the game away for the Tridents.
Mendez finished with two hits in three at bats to lead the Marauders.
Colleen Crutchfield and
Madison McGonigal also added singles.
Lara struck out five hitters and didn't walk anyone in 5.2 innings. She allowed three runs on nine hits.
Madison Jahner finished the game, allowing just a single hit - a solo home run – while striking out one batter.
Mathheis had three hits and drove in a run. Osborn had two hits and posted a run. Logan also had two hits.
The Marauders concluded their spring trip to Florida with a 3-5 mark. Overall this season Mary is 5-14. The squad next plays six games at a regional crossover March 18-19.
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