SPRINGFIELD, Ore. – Anabel Mendez recorded eight RBIs on Saturday to lead the Bushnell University softball team to their best-ever start in Cascade Collegiate Conference play and a series sweep over visiting University of Providence.
Bushnell (5-5, 3-0 CCC) has won five straight games for the first time since 2005. It is the first 3-0 start in conference play in school history for the Beacons.
Mendez went 6-for-7 on the day to lead Bushnell at the plate. She hit two home runs and a double in game two, totaling six of Bushnell's RBIs in the 14-2 victory.
Krystal Akagi tied a single-game school record with three stolen bases in the second game.
GAME ONE: Bushnell 7, Providence 1
Aliyah Kelly (2-3) won her second straight game in the circle, going six innings in the opener and allowing one run on three hits. The freshman holds a 1.95 ERA through five collegiate starts.
The Beacons grabbed a run in each of the first two innings, which included a sacrifice fly from
Madison Steelman in the top of the second.
Mendez doubled down the right field line to make it a 4-0 lead in the top of the fourth.
Faith Wayman brought in Mendez with a sacrifice fly in the following at-bat to extend the lead to five.
Steelman hit a two-out double to left in the top of the seventh before crossing home on a single through the left side from Mendez.
Sam Silver came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh after the Argos got into scoring position with a pair of walks. Providence spoiled the shutout with a two-out RBI-single before Silver struck out the final batter to secure another solid victory for the Beacons.
GAME TWO: Bushnell 14, Providence 2 (5 innings)
The Beacons opened the non-conference fourth game with a five-run top of the first. Mendez drove in three runs with a homer to left field to open the scoring. Bushnell added the next two on a walk and ground out.
Steelman scored on a wild pitch in the top of the second before the Beacons extended the lead to 10-0 with a four-run top of the third.
Elizabeth Betsch and Akagi both scored on double steals before Mendez hit her second home run of the game, a two-run blast to left.
Bushnell added a pair of runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to go up 14-0.
Bryana Yoshida drove in two of those runs, both on RBI-singles, driving in
Braydi Johnson on both occasions. Yoshida finished with three RBIs.
Breanna Hilton (1-0) recorded her first collegiate win in the circle, allowing four hits and two runs, both unearned, through three innings of work. Silver got the start and allowed a hit through two innings pitched.
The Beacons had eight stolen bases on the game, three from Akagi.
Co-Head Coach
Jim Patrick said, "It was another good day of softball. The bats came alive, starting with Anabel in the first game and she kept it going with a three-run homer in the first inning of game two."
Up next, Bushnell hosts Eastern Oregon for four games on March 4-5.
