Lady Cougars Drop Both Games to Wildcats at Home

MOUNT VERNON, Ohio. - The Mount Vernon Nazarene University softball team (16-16, 9-13 CL) competed at home at the Cougar Softball Field against the Wildcats of Indiana Wesleyan University (24-8, 17-3 CL) on Tuesday, April 7. 

In the first game, MVNU struck first with a run in the bottom of the first inning to take an early 1–0 lead. Zhari Hill opened the inning with a single to the pitcher and advanced on a base hit by Skylar Zimmerman. Hill later scored on an error, putting the Lady Cougars on the board. 

IWU answered in the top of the second inning, scoring one run to even the game at 1–1. The Wildcats then took the lead in the fourth, adding another run to go ahead 2–1. IWU broke the game open in the fifth inning with a 12-run outburst, extending its lead to 14–1. 

MVNU attempted to rally in the bottom half of the inning when Zimmerman ripped a double to center field, followed by a two-run single from Avery Miller. However, the effort wasn't enough to extend the game, and the Lady Cougars fell 3-14 in game one. 

In the second game, the Wildcats struck first, scoring a run in the top of the first inning to take an early 1–0 lead. Both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when the Lady Cougars erupted for seven runs. Staffan got things started with a single, followed by another from Makenzie Delaney. With two runners on, Shanda Melick drove in a run with a single to left field. Brooklyn Krum then delivered a big hit, roping a double to left-center that cleared the bases and brought in three runs. Staffan returned to the plate later in the inning and added a two-run double, giving MVNU a commanding 7–1 lead heading into the fifth. 

The Wildcats responded with two runs in the fifth and added another in the sixth to cut the deficit to 3-7. Entering the seventh inning, the Lady Cougars held a 7-4 lead, but IWU's offense came alive. The Wildcats put together a strong rally, scoring five runs to surge ahead and secure a 9–7 victory in the second game. 

What's Next  

The Lady Cougars will return to Cougar Field on Wednesday, April 8 to take on the Trojans of Taylor University at 3:00 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.