North Manchester, Ind. - Manchester Softball welcomed The University of Olivet to the MU Softball Field for its home opener on Tuesday, securing the sweep after a five inning run rule in game one and an eighth inning walk-off in game two.
Game One:Â
Manchester delivered a dominant performance on Tuesday afternoon, rolling to a 9-1 run-rule victory over Olivet at the MU Softball Field.
The Spartans set the tone early, plating a run in each of the first two innings before breaking the game open with a seven-run explosion in the third. Manchester capitalized on timely hitting and patience at the plate, finishing with 10 hits and five walks in the five-inning contest. A balanced offensive effort powered the surge. Lizzy Willis led the way with a 2-for-3 performance, scoring twice and driving in two runs while adding a double. Molly Gilhooly also recorded two hits and an RBI, and Lexi Goodman chipped in two hits and a run scored. Olivia Roney delivered a key two-run double, and Erin Singleton reached base and scored twice while adding an RBI. Sabrina Leonard contributed with a hit, two walks, and an RBI to keep innings alive.
In the circle, Krryn Miller was in control from start to finish. The right-hander tossed a complete game, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out two. She efficiently worked through five innings on just 52 pitches, limiting Olivet's opportunities and keeping the pressure on throughout. Defensively, Manchester was clean and composed, committing no errors while recording all 15 outs behind Miller.
Game Two:Â
Manchester used a late surge to secure a 4-3 victory over Olivet in extra innings on Tuesday evening at the MU Softball Field.
The Spartans were steady throughout, collecting eight hits and playing error-free defense, but it was their timely hitting down the stretch that made the difference. After falling behind 3-1, Manchester responded in the seventh inning with two runs to tie the game and force extras. In the decisive eighth inning, Manchester capitalized once again, pushing across the game-winning run to complete the comeback and walk off with the win. At the plate, Erin Singleton led the way with a hit and an RBI, while Sabrina Leonard also drove in a run. Lizzy Willis delivered a strong all-around performance, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored to help spark the offense. The Spartans also showed discipline in situational hitting, producing three two-out RBIs in the contest.
In the circle, Willis earned the win with a complete effort, tossing 7.0 innings while allowing just two runs on four hits and striking out five. The Manchester pitching staff held Olivet to six hits and limited scoring opportunities throughout the game. Defensively, Manchester was sharp, finishing with zero errors and solid play across the field to support the pitching staff.
