Lady Cougars Defeat Taylor and No.16 IWU in Crossroads League Tournament
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio. — The No.25 Mount Vernon Nazarene University softball team (33-14) began play in the Crossroads League Tournament in Mount Vernon, Ohio on Thursday, May 4.
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio. — The No.25 Mount Vernon Nazarene University softball team (33-14) began play in the Crossroads League Tournament in Mount Vernon, Ohio on Thursday, May 4.
No.3 MVNU began play against No.8 Taylor University (23-29) and won by a score of 7-4. MVNU trailed 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth. Despite the slow start, the Lady Cougars rallied with four runs in the inning to take the lead. Kiera Mayer drove in Zhari Hill and Kylee Pettit with a single, and Kennady Ruhl scored Mollie Pentz and Mayer to give MVNU the lead. Taylor responded to the MVNU outburst with a run in the top-sixth to tie the game. In the bottom of the inning, the Lady Cougar pushed across three more runs to put the game away.
Nadia Hoffman picked up the pitching win for MVNU after going 2.2 innings of relief. Hoffman gave up two hits and two runs. Sheridan Sullivan started the game in the circle and pitched 3.1 innings. Sullivan gave up six hits, two earned runs, and had six strikeouts. Maddelyn Wine had the save after closing out the seventh inning.
After the win, MVNU advanced on to play second-seeded Indiana Wesleyan University (39-12). Trailing 2-0 in the sixth, Macee Marcum blasted a two-run homerun to leftfield, tying the game. With the ballgame now tied 2-2 in the top of the eighth, Marcum struck again, this time with a two-run single that scored Pettit and Mallory Shoup. Sullivan pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth to secure the 4-2 win for MVNU. Sullivan also got the win in the circle after going 3.2 innings of relief. The junior gave up two hits, no earned runs, and had four strikeouts. Wine was solid in her start as she allowed no earned runs in 4.1 innings of work.
What's Next
With the win, MVNU advances along in the winner's bracket and will play No.1 Marian University on Friday, May 5. First pitch is set for 3:00pm at Cougar Field. For the full tournament bracket, click HERE.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students, and working adults. With a 327-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education both in-seat and online to nearly 2,000 students from 25 states and 11 foreign countries.
