Ravens Softball lost an extra-inning contest on their home field Sunday. The Ravens fell to the (RV) Midland University Warriors, 3-2, in 8 innings.
The game entered the eighth inning level at 1-1. With the International Tie-Breaker in effect, the Warriors started the inning with a runner on second base, and a walk put two Midland runners on. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, Megan Medhus made a diving catch in left field for the second out of the inning, but it was enough to score the runner from third to give the Warriors a 2-1 lead. A single then scored to give Midland a 2-run cushion headed to the bottom of the inning.
Ally Pickering started the frame on second base for the Ravens and came around to score on Natalie Sheffield's 2-out single, cutting the deficit to 1 run. However, Midland's Aliyah Rincon picked up her eighth strikeout of the contest to end the game with the Warriors on top.
Pitching was the name of the game all afternoon. Rincon pitched all 8 innings for the Warriors, while Kera Willoughby and Lacey Foster each pitched 4 innings for the Ravens with each giving up 1 earned run.
Midland's first run of the game came in the second inning courtesy of some soft, but well-placed hits. The score remained 1-0 for the next few innings until Clare Heitz tripled home Sheffield in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game and eventually send it to an extra frame.
The loss to the Warriors came a day after Benedictine traveled to North Newton to take on Hastings College on the campus of Bethel College. Saturday's series was moved due to the rainy forecast in Atchison and field conditions leading up to the weekend.
The Ravens earned a sweep over the Broncos 8-5 and 8-0.
In the opener Saturday, Willougby earned the start in the opener and pitched two and one-third innings before Abby Pressgrove threw the final four and two-thirds to earn the win. Pressgrove finished with 4 strikeouts while giving up 1 earned run off 7 hits.
Madison Zaccardo went 3 for 4 at the plate while Pickering went 2 for 3. Seven players recorded an RBI with Pickering, Medhus, Zaccardo, Clare Heitz, Willougby, Pressgrove, and Kassidy James tallying an RBI each.
Game two ended after 5 innings as Foster earned the shutout inside the circle. She finished with 5 strikeouts while holding the Broncos scoreless off 4 hits.
Benedictine belted out 12 hits in the win. Medhus finished with a home run and 2 RBI. Zaccardo hit a home run with a pair of doubles and 3 RBI. Chloe Strickland and Halley Rindom added doubles while James and Bella Ingui recorded triples.
The Ravens (9-10) will host Morningside for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 18 at Ravens Field.
