MISHAWAKA, Ind. — The end of the 12-game home stretch for the Bethel Pilots (9-33, 4-24) ended with a pair of losses to the Spring Arbor Cougars (17-21, 9-18) at Gardner Field Tuesday night against a Cougar offense that tallied 24 hits.
GAME 1
The game started with a two-run homer by Brooke Meeker in the top of the first to secure an early 2-0 lead then a slow burn ensued, with the Cougars scoring their third run in the top of the third off a double steal that scored Anna Kemp. Lexi Cain crossed home after a wild pitch in the top of the fourth for the fourth SAU run then Meeker executed a suicide squeeze that scored Summer Ambler and made it 5-0.
Ambler followed up with a two-run home run to right center in her next at-bat in the top of the sixth for a 7-0 game, but the Pilots fought back in the bottom of the frame. Madi Shaw ripped a single to left that brought home Alyssa Forys to break up a shutout, then Kate Cooper singled to left center for Morgan Blubaum to score and brought the game to 7-2. Jordan Markley brought home Shaw off a fielder’s choice but ended the sixth with 7-3 on the board.
SAU plated one last insurance run in the top of the seventh, with Elaina Walker bringing home Kennadi Killeen off a single and won the first game 8-3.
Natalee McNeil suffered the loss (2-10) after five innings and allowed six hits, five runs (four earned), walked three and struck out two batters.
GAME 2
Bethel roared first in the bottom of the first of the nightcap, with Forys taking home after a failed first and third cutoff play went off the glove of the second baseman Nicole Barbeau. Kate Cooper looped a single to right to score Shaw for the second run of the game later that inning, 2-0 Bethel.
Payton Grange singled to center in the top of the second, and Luby scored off the throw by Blubaum to get on the board. The Cougars tied the game in the top of the third from a sacrifice fly to center and continued to pile on in the top of the fourth with a squeeze, RBI double to right-center, three-run home run, and an RBI double to left to make it 8-2.
In the top of the fifth, Ambler grounded out to Natalee McNeil at second to score Grange for the ninth Cougar run, then had another big inning in the top of the sixth with a walked-in run, two-RBI single to left-center by Grange, two-RBI single to left-center for Tiffany Keller, and a two-run home run for Ambler to end the game in the sixth 16-2.
Ryen Clair (2-9) was given the loss after throwing 3.2 innings and allowing seven runs (five earned), walked one batter and struck out one.
The Pilots hit the road for the first time since April 4 and face the Marian Knights in Indianapolis on Thursday, April 17, for a doubleheader at 3 p.m.