PARKVILLE, Mo. – The Raven softball team took on the first of two NAIA Top 20 teams on Friday as it took to the road to take on No. 15 Park University at the Park Softball Complex.
Benedictine (6-13) allowed just four hits over 14 innings en route to a pair of 1-0 wins over Park (24-4), snapping the Pirates 12-game winning streak that dated back to March 14.
In all the Pirates had won 22 of their last 23 but couldn't find an answer at the plate against Benedictine pitchers Katelyn Nill and Katie Rickleffs.
In game one, Nill had a no hitter going into the fourth inning before giving up the first of her two hits. The second hit didn't come until the bottom of the seventh after the Ravens scored the games only run in the top half of the inning.
Jenna Fitzpatrick capped off a 2 for 4 effort in the seventh inning when she hit a ground ball through the hole at short to score Lindsey Profitt.
Nill finished with three strikeouts and walked just one Pirate to earn the win.
Fitzpatrick added a double while Profitt went 2 for 2 with a double and run scored.
In game two, Rickleffs took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before she gave up her first hit. She gave up her second hit in the bottom of the sixth and finished with just one walk as she induced 13 ground outs by Pirate batters.
The Ravens only needed five hits to complete the sweep. They scored their only run off a solo home run from Fitzpatrick in the top of the third. Hannah Maher added a double while Profitt recorded a triple to round out the top Raven hitters.
Benedictine has little time to enjoy the upset over the Pirates as they hit the road Saturday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader at No. 13 St. Gregory's in Shawnee, Okla.