Park University's softball team has placed themselves in elite company in Park history after a sweep of University of Saint Mary and have become the first team to go 6-0 all-time with Park softball.
There have been four teams in Park's records that have gone 5-0 to begin their seasons, but each were one win shy of the 6-0 mark ('95, '01, '09, '10). The 2014 squad also comes to mind, who began their campaign 10-1 as well.
The Spires came into the matchup with a 4-3 record on the season, hailing from the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference.
The Pirates have homered in every game this season and it was no different today, as
Halle Magee hit homeruns in both contests, bringing her to four home runs on the season.
The Pirates were down 1-0 in the first inning, but immediately responded with a two-run home run to the hitting nets beyond the left field fence by Magee.
The third inning was tied for the most runs of the day for the Pirates, as four runs came across on four hits.
Kali Day hit a ball in the 5-6 hole that scored Dani Klein. The Pirates were in business two runners in scoring position and keeping the runs flowing was
Shelby Sanders, who singled to right center to bring in Magee and Day.
Gracie Erickson was the next hitter and did not miss her pitch, driving it to deep left-center field to give Park a 6-1 lead.
The next inning another series of three consecutive hits by Klein, Magee, and Day scored three more runs for Park.
The first inning did not phase
Adrianna Solary in the circle and she came back with four scoreless innings. She earned her second complete game of the season, both requiring just five innings of work.
For the second straight game, the Spires came out strong in the first inning. This time they sent a first inning home run out of the Park for the 1-0 lead.
Both sides were clean defensively and the pitching really held these lineups down.
Dakota Rau pitched the next two innings without giving up a run with only three hits allowed in her outing.
She handed the ball off to
Lauren Fiene, who took it the rest of the way in four innings of relief, giving up just one hit and striking out six batters.
All it took was one inning for the Pirates to overtake Saint Mary, as the fifth inning saw four Pirate runs come across.
A little small ball by
Ashley Kurima forced a throwing error by Saint Mary to score
Emma James from second.
Austin worked a base-hit through the left side to put two runners on. Magee was at the plate in a key situation for Park with two on and two away. She was ready for the moment and laced a three-run home run to straight away left field.
With Park up 4-1, Fiene had more than enough offense to earn her second win of the season.
The Pirates will take a break until Tuesday, February 28 when they take on William Woods University for a double-header starting at 1pm.
Watch the live-action here.
#ParkUNation
