Park University's softball program defended the Park Softball Complex well on Thursday, sweeping (RV) Benedictine 1-0 and 5-3.

The Pirates are currently in Head Coach Lindsey Derry's best season at 28-10 and their strongest record in the Heart of America Athletic Conference since 2021 at 16-4. The Pirates are No. 2 in the conference, while Benedictine moves down to No. 5 with a 13-7 Heart record and a 28-18 overall record.

This also marks Park's first sweep of Benedictine since 2015, before these teams were conference opponents.

W, 1-0 | Box Score
This was a pitching duel through and through between the Ravens and Pirates and Lauren Fiene was nearly untouchable with a complete game shutout in the books. Fiene, the senior from Concordia, Mo., struck out five and only allowed one walk.

The Pirates had nine runners left on during game one, but another senior, Shelby Sanders came through with an RBI single to score Gracie Ramsey for the game winning run.  

W, 5-3 | Box Score
Four errors by the Park helped Benedictine to three unearned runs, but the Pirates responded each step of the way.

After Benedictine went up 1-0 in the top of the first, Park immediately answered back with a RBI triple to tie, 1-1.

Benedictine reached via error twice in the third inning to go up 3-1, but then on the same play of a an RBI single by Magee, the Ravens had a throwing error that brought in a second run for Park to tie, 3-3.

Sanders had the go ahead run in game one and she did the same in game two with a sacrifice fly in the third inning for a 4-3 lead.

Meanwhile, Hanna Vaught put up zeros the rest of the way and only allowed six hits for the game and two walks. With four strikeouts on her outing, she moved to 12-2 in her freshman season in the circle.

For good measure, Faith Tesmann sent a solo home run over the centerfield fence to lead into Park's 5-3 sweep.

Park is in Fayette, Mo. for their next round of Heart games against No. 10 Central Methodist on Tuesday, April 22 at 2pm and 4pm. WATCH