Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Manchester University softball team returned to the diamond for the first time in 367 days as the Black & Gold hosted the Alma College Scots in a non-conference doubleheader.
Manchester split its opening day doubleheader with Alma. The Scots earned a 6-0 shutout victory in the first game this afternoon while Manchester rallied for a 5-3 victory in game two. The second game was called in the top of the 6th inning due to darkness.
The victory also marked the first career coaching victory for new head coach Sara Emerich.
Game 1 – Alma def. Manchester 6-0 – Box Score
Game 2 – Manchester def. Alma – 5-3 (6 Innings) – Box Score
Doubleheader Notes:
* Alma got strong pitching from Haley Ullrich in the first game of the afternoon. Ullrich tossed a complete game shutout, limiting the Spartans to just three hits. She also struck seven batters en route to her second win of the young season.
* Game two of the day proved to be a back-and-forth affair. The Scots jumped ahead 2-0 through three innings of play.
* Manchester plated three runs in the home half of the 4th inning to grab a 1-run lead. An error by the Scots allowed the first Manchester run to score. Zoe Kesler (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) drove home the second run of the game for MU via a groundout. Lainey Bonser (Muncie, Ind./Delta) then laced a single to right that plated the third run of the inning for the Spartans.
* MU's lead was short-lived as Alma tied the game back up with a run in the top of the 5th inning.
* Manchester would then retake the lead for good in the home half of the 5th. With a runner on, Alexis Mokos (Cedar Lake, Ind./Hanover Central) cranked a double to deep center that scored a run to tie the game at 4-4. During the play Mokos was able to advance to third on the throw home. The ball then got past the Alma catcher which allowed Mokos to score from third.
* Mokos finished the second game of the day 3-3 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI. She also made a slick defensive play at shortstop in the contest.
* Lainey Bonser went 2-2 with an RBI while Page Magner (North Vernon, Ind./Jennings County) added a 2-3 effort at the plate with a run scored.
Up Next:
* The Spartans will host the Bluffton University Beavers on Tuesday, March 16, at the MU Softball Field. Tuesday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.
