Lawrence, Kan.—

Game One:

The Spires outlasted Haskell Indian Nations University 6-5 in extra innings Wednesday afternoon in the first game of the non-conference series, winning on Desarae Chavez's sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth after a back-and-forth battle that featured three lead changes and a late tie.

Saint Mary struck first in the opening inning. Audrey Spellman singled, stole second and eventually scored when Haskell's shortstop committed an error. Later in the frame, Brooke Gerling added an RBI single to bring home Nora Burrell and give the Spires a 2-0 lead. Haskell answered with a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the first, then moved in front in the third when Aldrich lined a two-run double to right for a 3-2 advantage.

The Spires regained control in the fifth. Spellman and Kylie Vandervoort both came around to score on Raegan McConnell's single to right, pushing USM back in front 4-3. McConnell added another RBI in the seventh with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Vandervoort and stretched the lead to 5-3. Raegan would finish with three RBIs despite recording one hit in three at-bats.

Haskell kept the afternoon interesting. In the bottom of the seventh, Roberts delivered a two-run single that scored Graves and Herrera, tying the game at 5-5 and forcing extra innings. The Spires answered immediately in the eighth when Burrell came home on Chavez's sacrifice fly to left for the final, game-ending run.

The Spires managed six runs on five hits, but pressure on the bases helped make the difference. USM drew six walks, stole six bases and did not commit an error. Spellman set the tone at the top of the order, scoring twice, collecting a hit, drawing a walk and stealing two bases.

Game Two:

The final game of the afternoon would see a far more aggressive USM squad break the game open early and never let Haskell recover in a five inning 8-0 softball win, scoring three times in the first inning and backing a five-inning shutout from Gracie Carlson. The Spires started their offensive showcase immediately, when they turned pressure on the bases into a 3-0 lead, then kept adding on until the run-rule victory was complete.

USM scored its first three runs in the opening inning. Brooke Gerling reached on an error that allowed Kylie Vandervoort and Nora Burrell to score, and Analesa Gonzales followed with a single that brought Gerling home. The Spires added another run in the second when Desarae Chavez doubled to center and later scored on a sac fly by Gabi Rogers, pushing the lead to 4-0.

Vandervoort led the offense from the top of the lineup, finishing 4 for 4 with a double, a triple, two RBIs and a stolen base. Chavez scored twice and doubled, while Audrey Spellman drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and scored once. Rogers also contributed an RBI and a stolen base as Saint Mary finished with eight runs on seven hits.

The Spires added two more runs in the fourth inning after a dropped third strike and passed balls created further scoring opportunities. Vandervoort answered with a single that drove in both Rogers and Spellman for a 6-0 advantage. USM closed the scoring in the fifth when Solis singled and later came home on Spellman's sacrifice fly. Vandervoort then tripled to bring Chavez home and make it a clean 8-0.

Carlson handled the rest in the circle. The Saint Mary starter threw all five innings, allowed two hits, walked none and struck out three while facing 17 batters. Haskell managed only two base runners left on base and did not score, while the Spires' defense committed just one error behind Carlson.

The Spires will travel to Sterling, Kansas this Saturday, April 11^th to resume KCAC action against the Warriors. First pitch of game one is set for 1:00 p.m. with game two to follow.