ANDERSON, Ind. – The Earlham College softball team ended its regular season with a six-game winning streak after sweeping Anderson University on Saturday afternoon in HCAC action.
GAME ONE : EARLHAM 10 ANDERSON 5
Morgan Cooksey threw a complete game to open the day, allowing four earned runs on 10 hits with one strikeout.
Macie Ferguson went 4-4 with four runs scored, one RBI, a triple and a steal.
Shelby Hill went 3-4 with two home runs, five RBI and two runs scored.
Mack Harvey earned a walk to lead off the top of the first inning, and advanced on a single by Ferguson. A groundout moved the runners to second and third, and
Emmerie Stump hit a two-out, two-run double to right field to open the scoring.
The Ravens responded with two runs on two hits in the bottom of the first.
In the top of the third, Fergsuon and
Bo Shelton led off the inning with a pair of hits, and Hill cleared the bases with a three-run home run to right field. Earlham also added four runs in the top of the fourth to take a 9-2 lead. Harvey hit a two-out double, and scored on a triple by Ferguson. Shelton then hit a two-run homer to left field, and went back-to-back with Hill for the catcher's second home run of the day.
After the Ravens scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, Ferguson hit a leadoff single in the top of the sixth. The sophomore stole second, and advanced to third on a flyout before scoring on a single by Hill for the final run of the game.
GAME TWO: EARLHAM 11 ANDERSON 2 (7 INNINGS)
Shelby Messer threw a complete game for her 10th win of the season, allowing just one earned run with four strikeouts.
Shelton was 4-4 with four RBI, two runs scored, a double and a home run.
Bella Schatko was 3-3 with a double and two runs scored.
After a leadoff double by Harvey, Shelton hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning to put the Quakers on the board first. Anderson scored one run in the bottom of the inning off two hits and an error.
Caitlyn Brooks led off the top of the second inning with a walk, and advanced on a bunt hit by Schatko.
Cierra James then hit a two-run triple to center field.
Ashley Lewis hit a sacrifice fly to score James. Shelton then hit a solo homer to right field for a 6-1 Quaker lead.
Anderson hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning.
The Quakers scored five runs on six hits in the top of the third inning, including four extra-base hits. Stump led off the frame with a single, and advanced to third on a double by Schatko. James then hit a two-run single, and Harvey hit a double to bring James home. Lewis scored Harvey with a double to center field, and Shelton doubled to left field for the final run of the game.
The Quakers end the regular season with a 22-16 overall record. Their 13-5 conference mark puts the team in fourth place in the HCAC standings after the regular season. Earlham will take on Bluffton University in the first game of the HCAC Tournament on Thursday at 10 am in Kokomo.
