Softball Opens 2019 Campaign on Monday
CLERMONT, Fla. – The Manchester University softball team opened the 2019 season with its annual Spring Break trip. The Spartans played two games on Monday March 18, facing off against Bethel (Minn.) University and Macalester. The Spartans fell in game one today but rebounded this afternoon to earn their first win of the season.
Game 1 – Bethel (Minn.) 6, Manchester 1 – Box Score
The Bethel University Royals topped MU in the Spartans’ season opener by a 6-1 final.
Manchester opened the scoring with a one in the top of the 1st inning. Alexis Mokos(Cedar Lake, Ind. / Hanover Central) singled home Miranda Boggs (Frankfurt, Ind. / Frankfurt) for Manchester’s lone run of the ball game.
Freshman Makenzi Nyland (North Vernon, Ind. / Jennings County) led the Spartans with a 2-3 effort at the plate.
For Bethel, Allie Fauth went 4-4 with three runs scored. Royals’ pitcher Hannah Schmidt improved to 3-0 this season after scatting six hits in a complete-game effort.
Game 2 – Manchester 8, Macalester 6 – Box Score
The Spartans used three home runs to power past the Macalester College Scots 8-6 on Monday afternoon.
Trailing 4-2 in the 5th, senior Sydney Thompson (Logansport, Ind / Logansport) hit a game-tying two-run home run to left. A few batters later, Alexis Mokos put the Spartans ahead for good with a two-run homer. Miranda Boggs also clubbed a two-run home run in the 6th that gave the Spartans an 8-4 lead.
The Scots rallied with two runs in the top of the 7th inning before Haley Perez (Portage, Ind. / Portage) registered the final two outs to secure Manchester’s first win of the season.
Both Katelynn Skeens (Gas City, Ind. / Mississinewa) and Krystal Sellers (Bourbon, Ind. / Triton) had three hits against the Scots.
Manchester (1-1) will face Trinity (Conn.) and Clarkson as their Spring Trip continues in the Sunshine State. Game times are set for 9:30 and 11:45 a.m.
