Lady Cougars Swept by Wildcats

MARION, Ind.– The Mount Vernon Nazarene University softball team (8-8, 1-5 CL) played a Crossroads League doubleheader at Indiana Wesleyan University (11-5, 4-0 CL) in Marion, Indiana on Saturday, March 14.  

In the first game, IWU struck first in the opening inning, scoring a pair of runs to take an early 2-0 lead. MVNU responded in the top of the second when Kiera Mayer hit her fifth home run of the season, cutting the deficit to 1-2. 

The Wildcats added to the lead in the bottom of the third with another run, then broke the game open with five more runs in the fifth inning. 

The Lady Cougars got their bats going in the top of the sixth. Bailey Sheets led off the inning with a single, and Jesenia Montalvo followed by driving in a run while putting two more runners on base with no outs. Shanda Melick then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score another run, bringing Skylar Zimmerman to the plate. After one pitch, Zimmerman launched her first home run of the season, a three-run shot that cut the deficit to 6-8. 

Despite the late rally, the Wildcats secured the win in the first game by a final score of 13-6. 

In the second game, MVNU took its first lead by scoring in the top of the first inning. Dakota Staffan singled up the middle and later scored on a single from Mayer, giving the Lady Cougars a 1-0 advantage. IWU responded with one run in each of the next two innings to take a 2-1 lead. MVNU put runners on base, but was unable to bring them home, while the Wildcats added more runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings. IWU pulled away late, handing the Lady Cougars a 1-9 loss. 

What's Next  

The Lady Cougars will be back on the road traveling to Huntington, Indiana, to take on the Huntington University Foresters on Thursday, March 19 at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. 

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, 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 2,200 students from 36 states, 1 U.S. commonwealth and 41 foreign countries.