Park University's softball program had its first games in Parkville since February on Friday, opening up the Heart of America Athletic Conference schedule with MidAmerica Nazarene University. The Pirates and Pioneers were only separated by three runs in Park's two wins, but superior pitching won the day for Park, 5-4 and 2-0.
It was the first conference games for both teams, as Park goes to 2-0 in the conference, while MidAmerica Nazarene is now at 0-2. Park's overall record stands at 14-6 and MidAmerica Nazarene goes down to 7-15.
W, 5-4 | Box Score
Caroline Riffer and Gracie Ramsey both singled to begin the game, which pretty much turn in to automatic doubles for these two on account of subsequent stolen bases. Riffer has 20 stolen bases going into the (RV) Grand View University series and Ramsey has the second most on the team with seven. Halle Magee singled to right field to score one, but an outfield assist took a run off the board, 1-0. A two-out triple by Chloe Gilbert got the second run across as Park's four-hit inning gave them a 2-0 lead.
Lauren Fiene in the circle worked around a double and a single in the first inning and threw three scoreless innings to begin the game.
Gilbert would bring the extra base-hits in game one with a three-run home run in the bottom of the third to give Park their five runs for the game.
MidAmerica Nazarene worked a walk and had a hit batter to get things rolling in the fourth inning, and then did a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. A flyball to centerfield would have potentially scored a run, but instead it was dropped to create more havoc for the Pirates. MidAmerica would go on to score two more runs on a single and another sacrifice bunt to make it 5-3, all on just one hit and two unearned runs coming in.
Park was done scoring, leaving it to Fiene in the circle. MidAmerica Nazarene caused some drama in the top of the seventh with two consecutive singles to begin the inning, but the senior pitched through adversity, striking out two in the seventh to seal the 5-4 win.
Fiene goes to 5-2 on the season and had five strikeouts in the game.
Gilbert in her first two at-bats drove in four RBI's.
W, 2-0 | Box Score
There was more suspense in game two, as both teams were in for a pitching dual. Hanna Vaught in the circle pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the first and then Park got another first inning run with a two-out double by Shelby Sanders, 1-0.
Park was done scoring again after the third inning, but Sanders again supplied the offense with an RBI double up the middle to score Riffer.
Meanwhile, Vaught pitched lights out for the Pirates, including some help from the defense with a double play turned by Emma James touching third and then throwing over to Gilbert at first base to end the inning.
The tying run was on second base with two outs in the top of the sixth, but Vaught pitched around that as well and left seven Pioneers stranded for the game, as Park went on to hold on for a 2-0 win.
The Pioneers had more hits than Park, but Vaught had zero walks and there were no defensive errors to keep the game in Park's favor.
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