Softball Captures Sweep with 2 Walk-Off Homers
(Hastings, NE) – In the final regular season series of the season, Hastings took on Mount Marty in a pair of critical games to get into the GPAC Tournament. Tied at two in the bottom of the seventh in game one, senior Lauren Lee drilled a three-run home run for the 5-2 walk-off win, then with the game tied at eight, junior Kaylee Pinneo hit a two-run home run to walk it off, 10-8.
(Hastings, NE) – In the final regular season series of the season, Hastings took on Mount Marty in a pair of critical games to get into the GPAC Tournament. Tied at two in the bottom of the seventh in game one, senior Lauren Lee drilled a three-run home run for the 5-2 walk-off win, then with the game tied at eight, junior Kaylee Pinneo hit a two-run home run to walk it off, 10-8.
In game one, Mount Marty hit a one-out double in the first inning and took a 1-0 lead on an RBI-triple to right field.
In the second inning with one out, senior Sam Skinner reached safely on a base hit and freshman Raygan Hoos launched a home run over the center field fence to go up 2-1. The Lancers loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth and got one run on a single up the middle, but senior Kiera Brack kept the game tied at two by getting a ground ball out to end the inning.
Still tied at two heading to the bottom of the seventh, freshman Jenna McClain reached on an error, then with one out, sophomore Sofia Carroll hit a hard grounder to third, who was unable to make a play at first, putting runners on first and second. Two batters later, senior Lauren Lee smashed a three-run home run over the left field fence for the walk-off 5-2 win.
Lee led the way at the plate, going 2-3 with a walk and the three-run home run. Brack pitched all seven innings to earn the win, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out two.
In game two, the Broncos got the first two out quickly in the first inning, but two straight doubles by Mount Marty knocked in a run and a two-run homer put the Lancers up 3-0. Mount Marty added two more runs in the second to take a 5-0 lead.
Hastings chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the second, as Lee led off the inning with a single and advanced to third on an error by the Lancers. Lee scored on a sac fly from senior Sam Skinner, making it 5-1.
Kappler walked and Carroll laced a single to left with one out in the third. Mudloff crushed a 1-0 pitch over the fence in left center field for a three-run home run, trimming the deficit to one at 5-4.
With two outs in the fourth, Hoos got on with a bunt single and McClain continued the inning with a base hit to right, advancing Hoos to third. On a wild pitch, Hoos scored to tie the game at five. Kappler put the Broncos ahead at 6-5 on an RBI-single to center, scoring McClain.
Mount Marty led off the fifth with a single and moved to third on a pair of outs, then scored on a bloop hit to right field, tying the game at six.
Mudloff began the bottom of the fifth with a single and Lee blasted her second go-ahead home run of the evening deep to center field. Mount Marty got within one at 8-7 on a solo home run in the sixth inning. The Lancers tied it in the seventh at eight-all with back-to-back one-out doubles.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Lee walked to start the inning and Pinneo ended the game with a deep blast to right field, winning 10-8.
Mudloff was 2-4 with a home run,three RBIs, and two runs scored. Lee went 2-3 with a home run, a walk, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Kappler was 2-3 with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI. Sophomore Dani Sitts got the win, pitching the final 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, striking out two.
Up next, Hastings will compete in the GPAC Tournament on April 29-30.
