MISHAWAKA – Bethel Softball slugged their way to a run-rule shortened game one victory 17-6 before being upended in the nightcap 5-1 against Grace on Wednesday. Lita Sills’ game-ending grand slam walked off the offensive output in game one, in which the Pilots exploded for seven doubles and three round-trippers.
GAME VITALS
Game 1 Score: Bethel def. Grace 17-6 F/5
Game 2 Score: Grace def. Bethel 5-3
Records: Bethel (6-26, 5-19) | Grace (11-26, 8-18)
NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll: Bethel – NR | Grace – NR
Location: Gardner Field | Bethel University | Mishawaka, Ind.
GAME 1 STAT TRACKER
Lita Sills: 2-4, GS, 2B, 5 RBI, R
Haley Ragonesi: 2-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R, SB
Quinn Slattman: 3-4, HR, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 4 R, SB
Emmie Pugh: 3-4, 2B, 4 RBI, 3 R
Ryan Norris: 2-3, 2B, 2 R
GAME 2 STAT TRACKER
Haley Ragonesi: 1-3, HR, RBI, R
Emmie Pugh: 1-2, HR, RBI, R
Quinn Slattman: 1-3, 2B, SB, RBI
Chloe DeJonge: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R
INSIDE THE BOXSCORES
The Pilots’ 17 runs is a season-high and their run-rule shortened victory is the first such win since April 23 last season against Grace.
The Pilots slugged 1.067 as a team in game one.
Haley Ragonesi and Emmie Pugh hit back-to-back home runs to open the seventh inning in game two but the late rally fell short.
The difference in game two was a fifth-inning grand slam by the visitors to break a 1-1 tie.
NEXT TIME OUT
The Pilots welcome Huntington to Gardner Field on Thursday for a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 pm.