The Saint Mary softball team traveled to Conway, Arkansas this weekend to participate in the Central Baptist Meltdown. The Spires finished 1-3 on the weekend earning a win over Hannibal LaGrange and falling to #5 Williams Baptist, Central Baptist, and Benedictine.
On Friday, Saint Mary opened the invitational against Central Baptist. Carrie Lee earned the start in the pitching circle and kept Central Baptist off the board until allowing a run in the fourth. Central Baptist would score three more times in the fifth and Lee would finish with a final line of five innings pitched, five runs allowed (four earned), eight hits, and one strikeout. Samantha Torres pitched the final two innings allowing five runs, but only one would be earned as some Saint Mary miscues let the game get away late. The Spires would score four runs over the final three innings, but it would not be enough. Kayla Hackney finished three for four at the plate. Alana Renshaw and Tycee Coplan each had two hits to pace the Spires' offense. The Spires would fall 10-4.
Saint Mary would battle #5 Williams Baptist in a hard fought contest for the second game of the weekend. Torres started in the pitching circle and kept things close into the fourth inning. Torres pitched three and two thirds innings allowing two runs on three hits. Saint Mary would trail just 2-0 heading into the fifth inning. Saint Mary would be unable to get anything going offensively as Williams Baptist pulled away with four runs in the fifth. Nicole DeSimone, Maddison Carr, and Coplan would each have one hit. Williams Baptist would win the game 6-0.
On day two, Saint Mary began the day with a 6-3 win over Hannibal LaGrange. After taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Hannibal LaGrange would score two runs and chase Torres from the game. Lee would enter the pitching circle and toss six and a third innings allowing just one run. Lee struck out five and walked three while allowing four hits. Kaila Trowbridge, DeSimone, Coplan, and Torres each had two hits for the Spires as they scored one run in the third and fourth innings before scoring three in the sixth to earn the win.
In the final game of the weekend, Saint Mary fell to Benedictine 5-2. Saint Mary was held to just five hits in the game. Trowbridge and Lee each had an RBI. Benedictine scored four runs in the first inning and one in the second to take control of the game.
Saint Mary will be back in action on Tuesday at 1pm for a double header at Avila Univesity in Kansas City. Avila is 3-2 on the season.
