BATESVILLE, Ark. – The University of Saint Mary softball team finished off the Lyon College Tri-Match on Monday against two tough teams at Howard and Mary House Field. The Spires nearly defeated William Penn in extra innings before falling 5-4, then faced a Lyon College team with just one loss on the season. The Spires cut into the deficit early against the Scots, but Lyon would come out on top 10-2.

Saint Mary drops to 1-7 overall on the season.

WILLIAM PENN GAME
William Penn got the scoring started with a run in the first inning, but Saint Mary would quickly answer in the bottom half. Samantha Torres and Hailey Reece each reached base to lead off the inning. Reece would later score on a single from Hazel Faz to tie the game at one. WPU added a second run in the third inning, before Saint Mary tied the game once again in the fourth. Melanie Roberts hit a sacrifice fly ball to right field – scoring Ashley Whaley.

The Statesmen grabbed a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning. The Spires would answer back and take their first lead of the game with two runs, however. Torres would score on a bunt base hit from Maddie Barron, while Reece added her second run of the game scoring on a Whaley single. William Penn would tie the game at four and the Spires would have a chance to win it in the bottom of the seventh. Two runners reached base with nobody out, but WPU was able to escape the jam. The Statesmen scored the final run in the eighth and held on in the bottom half to win, 5-4.

Katlyn Schiefen took the loss in the circle for the Spires, while Katie Springer earned the win for the Statesmen. Reece paced the Spires' offense going a perfect 4-for-4 and scoring two runs.

LYON GAME
Lyon jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings, including a two-run frame in the first. Saint Mary built some momentum in the fourth inning with a two-out rally. Faz and Whaley each scored on two separate errors by the Scots to cut the deficit to 4-2.

The Spires would face an uphill battle later on as the Scots scored six unanswered runs to end the game in six innings. Torres took the loss in the circle, while Faith Cornmesser earned the win for Lyon. Julissa Serrano led the Spires going 1-for-3 with an RBI.

UP NEXT
Saint Mary has a quick turnaround as they travel to Springfield, Mo. to face Evangel on Wednesday. The doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m.