Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Beverly Hills, MI - The Blue Devils softball team played their last regular season double header at home against Lourdes University. LTU is searching for two wins in order to solidify their spot in the playoffs. Game 1 resulted in a win for LTU with a final score of 8-4. The starting pitcher in Game 1 was Clover Brandt. Game 2 starting pitcher was Madison Shumaker. Makayla Benz came in from the bullpen as well.
Game 1 (LTU 8, Lourdes 4): The Blue Devils were locked in from the beginning. This was an all-around team effort on offense and defense. LTU found their first runs of the game coming in the second inning, where Katie Courneya was able to blast a 2 run bomb to left field. That home run drove in Callie Tatum. Lourdes came right back to find themselves scoring 3 runs in the next inning. LTU was not done as they also came back to bring some Blue Devils around home. Tatum flew out to left field to drive in a run, as well as Courneya who came up next to single to left field to bring around Brittney Wieland. In the 5th inning, LTU had themselves a nice rally which started from Tatum doubling to left center. Scoring in that inning was Nicole Powrozek, Tatum, and Clover Brandt. Leading the team in hits was Courneya with 3, and right behind her Tatum with 2 herself. LTU was able to win the game by a final score of 8-4 and hoping to carry that momentum into Game 2.
How it Happened: Clover Brandt was the starter for Game 1. She pitched a complete game and only gave up 4 runs. Brandt gave up 9 hits and 1 strikeout. Her defense made plays for her the entire game, even when runners were on base. She faced 30 batters and pitched 102 total pitches.
LTU ended this game with 0 errors and 10 total hits. They left 6 runners on base. The team's batting average in Game 1 was .357. The team struck out 5 times on the day.
Game 2 (LTU 3, Lourdes 2 - Final 11th Inning): Game 2 starter on the mound for the Blue Devils was Makayla Benz. She pitched a great gem on the day. This game went final in the 11th inning and Benz lasted all the way to the 8th. She threw 115 pitches and only giving up 2 runs on 7 hits. She struck out 2 batters and walked 4. Replacing her because of pitch count was Brandt (Game 1 starter). She pitched a total of 2.2 innings. Only faced 11 batters on 43 pitches. Benz's effort was enough to hold off Lourdes from the win. The defense behind both pitches made great plays down the stretch as well.
How it Happened: This game was very much so a pitcher's duel. The game was nodded at 1 a piece going into the 9th inning. Lourdes scored 1 in the top of the 9th, but LTU came right back to score 1 themselves from an error on LU. The game was tied at 2 going into the bottom of the 11th inning. Lauren Lanphear is on 3rd base while first basemen, Leah Kadlitz steps up to the plate. Leah then riffles a line shot to left field to drive in the winning run of the game and to give LTU the sweep on the day. LTU won this game 3-1 in 11. Lanphear was 3-5 and 1 run. These two huge wins might just seal the deal for the Blue Devils to get into the conference playoffs.
The teams batting average in this game was .179, 3 RBI and 6 KO's. LTU had 2 errors, but left 8 runners left on base.
On Deck: The Blue Devils (17-18) next game will be released on Monday on who they will be matched up against in the conference first round of playoffs. For updates on the team's next game visit ltuathletics.com.
