Late Rally Leads MVNU to First Game Victory at Saint Francis

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The Mount Vernon Nazarene University softball team (19-16, 12-14 CL) traveled to the University of Saint Francis (22-12, 15-9 CL) for a conference league game on Wednesday, April 16.  

Game 1 Summary: 

Nadia Hoffman earned her fifth win of the season with a dominant performance, striking out seven and allowing just one earned run. That lone run came in the bottom of the first inning, when Saint Francis took an early 1-0 lead. From there, the game settled into a pitcher's duel until the Lady Cougars sparked a rally in the top of the seventh. 

With one out, Dakota Staffan stepped up and crushed her seventh home run of the season, tying the game at 1-1 and sending it into extra innings. In the top of the eighth, Mount Vernon capitalized on smart baserunning. Zhari Hill came around to score on a clutch hit by Skylar Zimmerman, giving the Lady Cougars a 2-1 lead. MVNU held strong in the bottom of the inning to secure the hard-fought victory. 

Game 2 Summary: 

The Lady Cougars of MVNU came out strong in the top of the first inning, quickly putting two runs on the board. Kylie Rohr led the charge with a single, then advanced to third on a hit by Zimmerman. Rohr crossed the plate on a wild pitch, and Zimmerman followed soon after, scoring on a double from Avery Miller to make it 2-0. 

However, Saint Francis responded in a big way. They plated three runs in the bottom of the third and added four more in the fourth to take control of the game with a 7-2 lead. Mount Vernon tried to rally in the top of the sixth, scoring one more run, but it wasn't enough to avoid the sweep. Saint Francis secured the win in game two with a final score of 7-3. 

What's Next: 

The Lady Cougars will return home to take on the Maple Leafs of Goshen College on Thursday, April 17, at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. 

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 2,100 students from 33 states and 26 foreign countries.