Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 As the season comes to a close, the MSOE softball team is looking more at what seed they are going to have and not if they will actually make the NACC tournament or not. But the work is still far from over. The Raiders are halfway through a stretch of eight doubleheaders in just over a week and a half, showing strong results by going 8-2 with the sweep of Lakeland this afternoon at MSOE Athletic Field.
RESULTS
4/19 v Alverno (DH)
Win 5-1, Win 10-4
4/20 v Concordia-Chicago (DH)
Win 7-3, Win 4-2
4/22 v Lakeland (DH)
Win 4-3, Win 4-3 (8 inn)
HOW IT HAPPENED
MSOE (24-10, 14-4 NACC) has been destroying everything they have crossed paths with as of late, especially when it comes to conference play. Their seven-game win streak started with two wins over Alverno last Friday afternoon. Neither game was close, as Emily Wiederholt (Cuba City, Wis. / Cuba City) picked up her fifth win after giving up only one run in four innings, and Liz Gale (Naperville, Ill. / Neuqua Valley) came on for the three inning save in the 5-1 victory. Game two was much of the same expect for much more offense from the Raiders. Sarah Grossman (Palatine, Ill. / Palatine) pitched the majority of the game and was the benefactor of 10 runs off 14 hits, including three each by Lauren Stefanczyk (Palmyra, Wis. / Palmyra-Eagle) and Caitlyn Spreitzer (Plainfield, Ill. / Joliet Catholic Academy).
We move to Saturday, where once again the Red & White convincingly brushed aside their opposition in Concordia-Chicago. The Cougars led early in the first game with a run in the bottom of the initial frame, but the Raiders would go on to score at least one run in the next five straight innings for the 7-3 win. Game two was much closer, as MSOE was tied with CUC heading into the seventh inning at 1-1. That was before a Stefanczyk three run blast that put the Raiders put for good and moved them to 12-4 in the NACC.
Fast forward to today where the Raiders were back at home for two against Lakeland. Both contests were closely fought affairs, but each ended the same way. After a Muskies run in the top of the seventh, MSOE had some work to do down by one. That wouldn't be an issue as Emily Snow (Long Beach, Calif. / Millikan) doubled to left center to score one run before Kim White (Plainfield, Ill. / South) knocked her in to take the 4-3 walk off win. In the second game, it was Lakeland again who scored a run in the top of the seventh, which sent the contest into extras when MSOE failed to plate a run in their half. Lorrin Pondo (Bolingbrook, Ill. / Bolingbrook) kept the Muskies scoreless in the eighth, which meant it was rally time. After Rachel Ziemba (South Elgin, Ill. / South Elgin) singled and stole second, Emma Megal (Elm Grove, Wis. / Brookfield East) knocked a ball into right center as rain began to fall to give the Raiders yet another walk-off 4-3 win.
RAIDER REMARKS
The seven-game winning streak that the Red & White are currently on is their longest of the season, overtaking the six-game tear between March 23-31. They've outscored their opponents 34-16 since last Friday (April 1th)
Lorrin Pondo has also earned the win in each of the last four games that MSOE has played.
WHO'S ON DECK
The Raiders will keep their busy slate going, as they will host Mount Mary on Wednesday for their last non-conference matchup of the season. First pitch from MSOE athletic field is scheduled for 3:00 pm.
For up-to-the-minute MSOE Raiders news, visit us at www.go-raiders.com. You can also follow the Red & White on Twitter @MSOE_Raiders and @msoe_raiders on Instagram.
