Alma (Mich.) and Ave Maria (Fla.) outlast Point Park in a split doubleheader

Game 1: Point Park University vs. Alma College (Mich.)

MELBOURNE, Fla. -- The Pioneers faced Alma College (Mich.) on Sunday at the USSSA Space Coast Complex located in Melbourne, Fla. The Scots (1-0) came away with the victory in their first game of the season beating Point Park (0-1) by a score of 3-1.

Savannah Lee started in the circle for the Pioneers where she went 5.0 innings giving up three earned runs on six hits. Kristyna Mala came on to throw a perfect inning of relief by striking out two out of the three batters she faced.

The Scots started the scoring immediately as Reneigh Sandmann started the bottom of the first with a double to left field. Sandmann moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt by Julia Duncan. With Sandmann in scoring position, Danielle Dumoulin hit a sacrifice fly that would plate Sandmann

Alma scored two more runs in the fifth inning as a single to left field by Emily Dimock scored Amelia Price. Sandmann reached base again on a fielder's choice where she advanced on a wild pitch. Duncan provided the single to left field that gave the Scots a 3-1 lead over the Pioneers going into the sixth inning.

Alma pitcher Mikaylyn Kenney held the Pioneers to only two hits on the evening with the Pioneer's lone score coming in the sixth inning.

Mia Arndt started things off for the Pioneers in the sixth by reaching on an error by the center fielder. Arndt would go on to steal second base and eventually be moved over to third by a groundout to the shortstop by Remi Koi. With Arndt on third, Sydnie Reese hit a hard single to the left side of the infield to score Arndt.

The Pioneer's only other hit on the evening came back in the third inning when Melanie Taylor hit a one-out single to center field.

Game 2: Point Park University vs. Ave Maria (Fla.)

MELBOURNE, Fla. – In their second game of the day the Pioneers were outlasted by Ave Maria (Fla.) in a game that would see extra innings. Ave Maria (12-3) scored three runs in the top of the eighth to seal the win over Point Park (0-2).

Jaylyn Mullenax took the circle for the Pioneers where she pitched 7.1 innings in which she gave up 10 hits, walked one, and gave up six runs (five earned). Kristyna Mala came on in relief to pitch 0.2 innings in her second perfect appearance in the circle on the day.

Ave Maria started out the scoring with an RBI single by Marisa Michi to score Cecilia Garrett in the bottom of the first but the Pioneers would quickly answer back.

Unlike in their previous game, the Pioneers started hitting right out of the gates. Junior Melanie Taylor started off the bottom of the first with a double down the third base line. Mia Arndt moved Taylor to second with a base hit on a bunt. Koi would follow right behind Arndt with a base hit bunt of her own to move Taylor and Arndt into scoring position.

Sophomore Gianna Welsh stepped up to the plate where she delivered a single through the left side to score Taylor tying the score up at 1-1 while advancing both Arndt and Koi.

With Arndt and Koi standing in scoring position, Senior Sydnie Reese grounded out to second base resulting in Arndt scoring while Koi and Welsh advanced a base making the score 2-1 in favor of the Pioneers.

Designated hitter Savannah Lee followed suit by grounding out to the pitcher, but Koi would end up scoring on the play to make it 3-1 going into the top of the second.

Ave Maria picked up another run in the third on a sacrifice fly by Ashley Lykins that scored Ashley Altman making the score 3-2 still in favor of the Pioneers.

No one would score again until the sixth inning when a double by Ave Maria's Ryanne Saluter plated Annabella Phillips tying the score at 3-3.

The Pioneers had chances to score but could not capitalize. In the bottom of the sixth Reese drew a walk. Raigan Chavez came into pinch run for Reese. Lee laid down a perfect base hit bunt advancing Chavez to third on the throw. Two batters later Mara Iagnemma hit a ground ball to the pitcher which Chavez attempted to take home but was thrown out.

Once again in the seventh inning, the Pioneers found themselves with a runner on third as Arndt picked up her second hit of the day on a single to left field. Koi followed up with a walk to put runners on first and second. Welsh reached on a fielder's choice with Koi being thrown out at second and Arndt advancing to third. The Pioneers couldn't capitalize, and the game would go to extras.

Going into the top of the eighth inning Ave Maria placed Altman on second due to international tiebreaker rules.

Ave Maria started the inning with a single to right field by Lykins to advance Altman to third. Altman scored on a single to right field by Cecilia Garrett to break the tie putting Ave Maria ahead 4-3. Ave Maria scored 2 more runs in the top of the eighth making the score 6-3.

The Pioneers were not able to capitalize in the bottom of the eighth as two strikeouts and a foul out to the catcher ended the game in favor of Ave Maria, 6-3.

For Point Park, three players picked up multiple hits on the night. Arndt went 2-4 with one run scored, Welsh went 2-4 with one RBI, and Iagnemma went 2-4. Welsh and Iagnemma both had doubles for the Pioneers.

Point Park (0-2) is back at it again tomorrow against Warner University (Fla.) in Lake Wales, Fla. The Pioneers will play a double header against Warner with games scheduled for 4:00 and 6:00 pm ET.