Offensive Surge Leads Lady Cougars to Dominant Sweep of Pilots

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio. —  The Mount Vernon Nazarene University softball team (25-16, 18-14 CL) hosted Bethel University (9-39, 4-30 CL) for a Crossroads League doubleheader on Wednesday, April 23.

Game 1 Summary:

MVNU opened the scoring in the first inning with a sacrifice fly from Dakota Staffan to right field that brought in the first run, followed by an RBI single from Avery Miller to left that extended their lead to 2-0.

Bethel responded in the second, scoring a run on an obstruction call as a runner crossed the plate.

However, MVNU answered with a strong bottom half, pushing across four more runs on a pair of RBI singles from Miller and Sydney Hoover, making the lead 6-1 MVNU after the bottom of the second.

In the third inning, MVNU added to its lead with a fielder's choice RBI, a double steal that plated a run, and a wild pitch that allowed another run to score to go up 9-1. A pair of RBI doubles to left field extended the advantage to 11-1 from Miller and Hoover.

The offensive surge continued in the fourth as MVNU tallied five more runs, including an RBI single to right from Brooklyn Krum, a groundout from Camden Laymon that brought in a run, and a three-run homer to left field from Miller to go up 16-1.

Bethel tried to chip away in the fifth with a two-RBI double and an RBI groundout, but it wasn't enough to overcome MVNU's explosive offense, as the home team cruised to a commanding lead and won by a final score of 16-4 in five innings.

Nadia Hoffman secured her ninth win of the season after tossing five strong innings, surrendering just one hit, striking out four, and issuing five walks.

Game 2 Summary:

MVNU came out strong in the first inning, quickly taking control of the game. The offense ignited with a single to left field from Skylar Zimmerman that brought in the first run, followed by a double from Staffan to center that added another to go up 2-0. A string of three doubles from Miller, Kiera Mayer, and Kylie Rohr kept the momentum going for the Lady Cougars, contributing five total RBIs and pushing the lead to 7-0 by the end of the inning.

The third inning saw MVNU extend the advantage further with a sacrifice fly from Staffan and another RBI single from Miller, increasing the lead to 9-0.

Bethel managed to get on the board in the fourth inning with a single to right field that drove in an unearned run. Another unearned run followed in the fifth with an RBI single to left to make the score 9-2 MVNU.

MVNU responded in the bottom of the fifth with a single to right field from Jesenia Montalvo that brought home another run to walkoff, capping their big offensive day, winning game two by a final score of 10-2

Maddelyn Wine secured her eleventh win of the season after tossing five strong innings, surrendering just five hits and striking out three.

What's Next:

The Lady Cougars will face off against No.12 Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats on the road. Game one of the doubleheader is set for 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 24.

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.