LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – The upset bid for the University of Saint Mary women's softball team against (17)Grand View University came up short in both games Sunday afternoon at home. USM rallied late in both games but fell 7-6 in game one, and 14-10 in game two.
The Spires are now 1-11 overall.
GAME 1
The Vikings led 5-0 going into the bottom of the fifth inning. Maria Howard sparked a rally with a shot to center field for the single. Shelby Mohler reached first after being hit by the pitch. With two runners on, Delaney Hess ripped the ball to deep left field, which put the Spires on the board making the score 5-1 Vikings. Mara Davis kept the rally going with a grounder through the hole at shortstop, and Mohler scored. The next batter, Hazel Faz kept the train rolling as she cranked one over the center fielder to bring in two runners. Hailey Reece singled to left, and Faz scored to tie it up 5-5 after the left fielder missed the grounder, and Reece advanced to third. The Vikings answered in the sixth with two runs. Heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Spires trailed 7-5. Reece singled to left, but reached two on the misplayed ball. With two outs, Alexis Solis stepped smashed one to the left field fence, which brought another run in. Saint Mary fought hard, but came up just short.
GAME 2
The Spires found themselves down 3-0 after two innings, but got on the board in the third off of an error and a hit from Josefina Gutierrez. Grandview would build their lead to six going into the bottom of the fourth. Faz sparked the rally for the Spires with a shot to the left field fence, and Reece followed with a single as she showed off her wheels and beat the throw. Reghan Ross then hit it to right field to bring in Faz, and then Reece scored after the right fielder missed the ball. Two more runs were brought in after a hit from Sierra Gerdts. On the next batter, Faz hit a double to deep left field to bring in two more runs which gave Saint Mary the 9-8 lead. GVU would outscore USM 5-1 in the final innings to pick up the win.
INSIDE THE STATS
-Faz had four RBI on the day.
-Reece went 5-for-9 at the plate.
-As a team, the Spires had 23 hits on the day.
UP NEXT
The Spires return to action on Mar. 4 at home, where they will take on Missouri Valley College in a doubleheader. Game one is set for 1 p.m.
