LACEY, Wash – The Bushnell University softball team was swept in a four-game non-conference series with NCAA Division II Saint Martin's, falling 7-3 and 9-7 in Sunday's doubleheader.
A pair of late comeback attempts fell short as Bushnell drops to 6-13 on the season. Saint Martin's improves to 10-8, extending its win streak to six games.
Game One: Saint Martin's 7, Bushnell 3
Down 7-0 in the top of the seventh,
Anabel Mendez and
Faith Wayman got the bats going with a pair of hits followed by a
Jordan Kuykendall walk to load the bases.
Madison Steelman (pictured) cleared the bases with a three-run triple to left field to score the first runs of the series for the Beacons. The rally fell short, but the Beacons were able to build some momentum for game two.
Chloe Leverington (3-0) earned the pitching win for the Saints, allowing three runs on four hits through the final four innings. Tia Ridings got the start, allowing one hit through three innings of work. The pair combined for 12 strikeouts.
Aliyah Kelly (2-6) started in the circle for the Beacons, allowing four runs on six hits through four innings.
Leslie Reynaga pitched the next 1.2 innings before
Sam Silver recorded the final out.
Game Two: Saint Martin's 9, Bushnell 7
Anabel Mendez went 4-for-4 in the second game, recording a pair of RBIs.
Suzi Krstic hit 2-for-4 with a double and three runs scored.
Bushnell trailed 4-0 after a big opening inning from the Saints. The Beacons cut the deficit in half in the fourth frame with RBIs from Mendez and Kuykendall. Mendez drove in
Krystal Akagi with a single to left center before Kuykendall brought home Krstic with a sacrifice fly in the following at-bat.
Saint Martin's put up four more runs in the bottom half thanks in part to a three-run homer from Destiny Conerly, extending the lead to 8-2.
Aliyah Kelly entered the game in the fifth, replacing starting pitcher, Silver, who was removed due to injury. Kelly recorded her first collegiate hit in her first-ever plate appearance to put runners on first and second with no outs.
Alyssa Ferreira singled and advanced to third on an error to plate both runners. Mendez followed with another RBI-single to bring the score to 8-6.
The Saints added a run in the sixth, but the Beacons kept it interesting in the final frame. Krstic and Mendez got on base with singles to put the game-tying run at the plate. A groundout from Kuykendall scored Krstic but Bushnell was unable to pull off the comeback.
Abby Runyon (3-4) got the win in the series finale, going four innings and allowing two runs on four hits. Kylie Parsons recorded the save, allowing five runs (two earned) on seven hits.
The Beacons return to Cascade Collegiate Conference play next weekend, traveling to Vancouver, B.C. for a four-game series with the University of British Columbia.
