Park University's softball program hosted Strikeout Cancer Awareness Day at the Park Softball Complex on Saturday, March 22 against Culver-Stockton College. All student-athletes displayed their sign with the name of "Who I Play for…" prior to the contest with all donations from the games going to Jill's Hope.
Jill's Hope is a non-profit organization that helps those in the fight with cancer and their caregivers. The mom of Jill Heckman, the founder of Jill's Hope, Jan Bailey threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Jill's Hope gave away a Chemo Care Package for one person in attendance who knew someone currently battling cancer, and the Park and Culver-Stockton raised over $500 in donations for the organization.
Park won its ninth win in a row in Saturday's sweep, 6-0 and 2-0. Park now is 16-6 on the year with a 4-0 Heart of America Athletic Conference record, while the Wildcats dropped to 5-19 and 0-2 in conference play.
W, 2-0 |
Box Score
Shelby Sanders got Park off to a good start with a two-RBI single in the bottom of the first. Then a wild pitch would bring in Sanders for a 3-0 lead.
Park tacked on a run in the second, fourth, and fifth; and Magee got her second RBI of the game with a double in the fourth.
Gracie Ramsey would move in the sixth run in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly.
Meanwhile,
Myel White, the junior from Raytown, Mo. would shutdown Culver-Stockton with a complete game with zero runs allowed, only four hits, and one walk. White waved five Wildcats and moved to 2-2 on the season.
W, 2-0 |
Box Score
The shutout softball continued for the Park staff in game two, as
Hanna Vaught pitched her third consecutive complete game shutout for the week, moving to 8-1. The freshman from Polo, Mo. only had two walks in those 21 innings, defeating William Woods, MidAmerica Nazarene, and Culver-Stockton.
In this game against the Wildcats she had eight strikeouts and only allowed three hits.
It only took two runs for Park to get the win, as
Dani-Quinn Klein McAlister had the single to left center to score
Halle Magee and then
Emma James hit a line-drive to right field to put Park up 2-0 for the eventual win.
James was three-for-three at the plate to lead Park and
Gracie Ramsey was right behind with a two-for-three day.
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