MISHAWAKA, Ind. — For the first time since Apr. 11, 2018, the Bethel Pilots (6-10, 1-1) defeated the Saint Francis Cougars (8-4, 1-1) at Gardner Field with a 5-4 win, then lost 11-0 in a 10-run-rule (six innings) 11-0 in the nightcap of the doubleheader Wednesday night.
GAME 1
With runners on first and third, Jordan Markley attempted to steal second and was thrown out, but allowed Kate Cooper to dash for home and score the first Pilot run in the bottom of the second.
Paxton Baker looped in Alyssa Forys from second off an RBI single to left, then Cooper smashed a double to right, bringing in Morgan Blubaum from second and Baker from first to pad the lead 4-0 in the bottom of the third.
In the top of the fourth, Macie Dowd led off the inning with a home run over the left field fence to break up the shutout for Pilot pitcher Natalee McNeil.
In the bottom of the fourth, Harmony Looney, who flashed the leather well at third all game, smacked a no-doubt home run and gave BU their fifth run.
McNeil earned the win after 6.1 innings pitched and allowed six hits, four runs (three earned), walked three, and struck out two in 102 pitches.
Ryen Clair earned her first save of the season by getting the last two outs of the top of the seventh in two pitches.
GAME 2
Clair started the nightcap in the circle and threw two shutout innings before Dowd singled to center to end the scoreless streak.
Dowd struck back in the fifth with another RBI single to left center to pad the lead to 2-0, then Haylee Schott scored two off a single to right, 4-0.
Paiton Iliff hit a three-run homer to put the game close to eight-run-rule territory in the top of the sixth, then bolstered four more runs to end the game after the sixth 11-0.
Ryen Clair (1-1) was given the loss after throwing three innings of work and allowed six hits, three runs, walked one and struck out one.
The Pilots hit the road to Goshen, Ind. and the Goshen College Softball Complex on Friday, March 14 at 3 p.m. for a US Highway 20 Cup doubleheader with the Goshen Maple Leafs.