Location: Hannibal, Missouri (Trojan Field)
Score: Hannibal-LaGrange University 7, Mission University 1
Mission University 4, Hannibal-LaGrange University 0
Springfield, Missouri- After the long journey to Hannibal, Missouri, to take on the Lady Trojans of Hannibal-LaGrange University, the Lady Patriots were a little sluggish with the bats. HLU pounded out 10 hits that resulted in a 7-1 victory for the home team. The Lady Trojans struck for three runs in back-to-back innings, the third and fourth, to take a dominating 6-0 lead. The Lady Pats finally tallied a single run in the top of the sixth inning to trail 6-1.
Kate Potter started the sixth off with a single to right field. After an out by Mission, Potter was moved to second base by a ground out.
Kloe Hendrickson's single to right knocked in the sole run for the Lady Patriots in the opening game. The Lady Trojans answered that run with one of their own in the bottom of the sixth inning for the final 7-1 score. Despite a leadoff single to second base by
Apryl Zeno, the Lady Patriots went quietly in the seventh inning.
Highlights-
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Lady Patriots hit much better, earning 10 hits to score 4 runs. The story would be about the three-hitter that
Tessa Cline threw, however, as she mixed in three base on balls, but allowed zero Lady Trojan runs over seven innings to throw a shutout. The Lady Patriots got on the scoreboard in the second inning with two runs.
Jocelyn Cunningham singled to right field to lead off.
Karissa Roberts followed with a single to right center. T. Cline ground into a force out, taking Cunningham off the base path. Roberts and T. Cline then stole a base to give Mission two runners in scoring position. Maddie Hanger reached on a fielder's choice as her hit went to an infielder who tried to retire a runner unsuccessfully, leading to Roberts scoring and Hanger with an RBI.
Courtney Merrell nearly duplicated that play when she grounded into a fielder's choice where no outs were recorded and T. Cline scored. The Lady Patriots added two more runs in the top of the third inning for a 4-0 lead.
Apryl Zeno began the inning with a single to left field.
Maddie Good sacrificed Zeno over to second base. Cunningham singled to center, but Zeno had to hold at third base. Roberts ripped a double to center field to drive in Zeno, while also moving Cunningham to third. T. Cline grounded out to the first baseman for an RBI as Cunningham came in to score. The Lady Trojans had a threat going in the bottom of the fourth inning when they had a leadoff double, but the team stranded the runner at second. The Lady Pats had a two-out rally going in the top of the fifth inning with back-to-back singles by Cunningham and Roberts, but were unable to push any runners across the plate. Once again in the fifth for HLU, they got the leadoff batter on, this time with a single, but that was ended by the pitching and defense of MU. Mission would strand two more runners in the top of the sixth inning. HLU managed a walk in the bottom of the sixth, but nothing became of that potential threat. Both squads went in order in the seventh as Mission University prevailed 4-0.
Highlights-
- Courtney Merrell, 2 for 4, and 1 RBI.
- Apryl Zeno, 1 for 4, and 1 Run scored.
- Jocelyn Cunningham, 3 for 4, 1 Double, and 1 Run scored.
- Karissa Roberts, 1 for 3, 1 Double, 1 Run scored, and 1 RBI.
- Tessa Cline, 0 for 3, 1 Run scored, and the winning pitcher with 1 RBI.
- Maddie Hanger, 1 for 3, and 1 RBI.
Up Next-
The Lady Patriots host William Woods in an AMC doubleheader on Friday, April 18. Game times are 1 and 3 pm, unless the weather changes the schedule.
