Park University's softball program and Benedictine College lined up at the Park Softball Complex on Saturday for a Senior Day doubleheader. The Ravens defeated Park soundly in five innings in game one 9-0, but Park did the unthinkable, scoring five runs in the seventh inning to walk-off on Benedictine in game two, 5-4.
The Pirates celebrated six seniors prior to game one, including
Ashley Kurima,
Gracie Erickson,
Adrianna Solary,
Macee Austin,
Carmen Miller, and
Lexie Schroeder.
The Pirates move to 18-19 on the season and 7-13 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play. Benedictine was only three outs away from the sweep but instead move to 22-21 and 12-8 in the conference.
GAME 1 BOX SCORE | 9-0
Five of Park's seniors were showcased in the game one lineup, including Park's starter on the mound
Adrianna Solary.
She pitched two scoreless innings before the Ravens were able to get some small ball along with some timely hitting to score four runs in the top of the third. The top of the fourth also featured four runs for the Ravens and Solary was relieved by
Dakota Rau with runners at the corners with nobody out. Rau allowed two hits in her two innings and another run scored in the top of the fifth for the Raven's ninth run.
At the plate, Park was confined to only two hits coming from
Halle Magee and
Emma James. Magee would play an even greater role in game two, but the Ravens took the five-inning win over Park, 9-0.
GAME 2 BOX SCORE | 5-4
Lauren Fiene was in the circle for Park in game two and competed well for the complete game.
Both the Pirates and the Ravens eight and seven hits in game two, respectably. Five of Park's hit were in the last two innings.
Fiene was really only hurt by a hit from the Ravens' two-hole that left the yard for the three-run home run. Once again, Benedictine scored their first runs of both games in the third inning when the top of their lineup came through a second time.
Abby Pressgrove came up again for the Ravens with an RBI double in the top of the fifth to drive in all four RBI's for her team in game two.
Besides that, Fiene threw five scoreless innings to help give her team a chance.
It all came down to the last three outs for Park, but all five batters that appeared at the plate came around to score without recording a single out in the inning.
First, the Pirates pinch hit
Nia Muniz to lead-off the inning and the freshman delivered a base hit back up the middle to energize her team.
Park then had three straight seniors play key roles in the outcome of the game. Both Kurima and Schroeder had to work through some tough pitches in their at-bats, but each drew walks to load the bases.
Another senior, Austin put a perfectly placed ball in between the leftfielder and the shortstop to score Muniz. And then with one swing of the bat, Magee hit her eighth and biggest home run of the season for the walk-off, grand slam.
This is the second home date in a row that Park has earned a walk-off victory, as the Pirates defeated the No. 4 Baker University Wildcats 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh the last time Park was on their own field. These were both the second game of the series.
Fiene got her eighth win of the season and is 8-5 after the 5-4 victory.
Hear from the Austin and Magee on their thoughts following a great celebratory win for Park's seniors.
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Tomorrow, April 23 Park has another tough series scheduled with No. 17 Central Methodist University at 1pm at the Park Softball Complex.
Watch the live-action here.
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