Thursday from Florida: Point Park beats Cabrini, drops extra-innings game to MVNU

CLERMONT, Fla.— Point Park University Softball was back at the Spring Games where they beat Cabrini University (Pa.) in the first game of the day. The Pioneers beat the Cavaliers 9-1 in a game that ended in the sixth due to mercy rules being implemented. In their second game of the day the Pioneers fell to Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) in extra innings as the Cougars scored one in the bottom of the eighth to beat Point Park 3-2.

GAME 1: Point Park vs. Cabrini University (Pa.)

In game one of the day, the Pioneers had their best offensive game of the season as they racked up 13 hits in the game to lead to a 9-1 final versus the Cavaliers. The game lasted only six innings as the mercy rule was implemented in the bottom of the sixth. Savannah Lee's single that scored Mia Arndt to end the game.

Cabrini started the scoring right out of the gate as a single to center field by Kelsey Huling scored Ariana Mirenda from second making the game 1-0 in favor of the Cavaliers going into the bottom of the first.

From that point on it was all Point Park. The Pioneers went on to score nine unanswered runs throughout the next six innings.

The Pioneers started their scoring in the bottom the second when sophomore Remi Koi singled to left field scoring Sydnie Reese to tie the game up 1-1.

The offense stayed strong in the third as the Pioneers scored three runs in the inning. The first run came off Melanie Taylor's single to left that scored Raigan Chavez from third base. Then with Taylor on third and Reese on second following a walk and stolen base, Mara Iagnemma singled to left field to score both making the game 4-1. 

In the fourth inning, Point Park continued to pile on the runs as they scored two more making the game 6-1. Taylor struck again as she ripped a double to score Chavez from third. Mia Arndt followed suit with a triple to right field to score Taylor.

The Pioneers scored three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to enact the mercy rule. Following singles by Bella Magliocco and Hayley O'Neil, Chavez delivered with a single of her own to score pinch runner Mackenzie Moore. Following a single by Taylor, Arndt got her second hit of the day, a single to right field, to score O'Neil.

Savannah Lee called the game with a single to score Chavez officially enacting the mercy rule. The RBI single put the Pioneers ahead by eight, officially ending in a 9-1 score.

 Lee earned the win in the circle as she threw all 6.0 innings for the Pioneers to earn her first win of the season. Lee threw a great game as she only gave up one run (earned) on five hits while getting a strikeout.

Everyone in the Pioneers lineup got into the action as all nine starters tallied a hit in the game. Taylor led Point Park going 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Arndt went 2 for 4 with two RBIs of her own while Iagnemma went 1 for 3 with two RBIs as well. Other leaders included Chavez who went 2 for 3 with one RBI and three runs, Sydnie Reese who went 1 for 2 with 2 runs, Savannah Lee who went 1 for 4 with an RBI to end the game.

Game 2: Point Park vs. Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio)

In game 2 of the day, the Pioneers were outlasted in the eighth inning as a walk off sacrifice bunt by Mollie Pentz was thrown away allowing Avery Miller to score from third putting Mount Vernon Nazarene up 3-2 to end the game.

The Pioneers scored out the gate in the top of the first as two cougar errors allowed Melanie Taylor to score putting Point Park up 1-0.

The game remained quiet until the fourth inning. Following back-to-back singles by Hayley O'Neil and Remi Koi, Mia Arndt joined in the action and got a single to left field to push the score to 2-0 in favor of Point Park. 

Mount Vernon Nazarene went on to score three runs over the next four innings to earn the win. In the bottom of the sixth inning, a double by Brooklyn Krum scored Pentz giving Mount Vernon Nazarene their first run of the game.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Cougars struck again as Holcomb was able to reach base on an error by the Pioneers. The Pioneers almost got out of the inning until a two out single by Kiera Mayer scored Holcomb, tying the game up at 2-2 and sending it to extra innings.

In the top of the eighth the Pioneers were able to get O'Neil into scoring position at third, but a groundout to the pitcher and a fly out to first base sent the game to the bottom of the eighth.

The bottom of the eighth proved detrimental to the Pioneers as a sacrifice bunt by Pentz was thrown away allowing for Miller to score from second ending the game 3-2.

Jaylyn Mullenax (1-1) was tagged with the loss as she threw a complete game giving up seven hits, three runs (only one earned), while getting four strikeouts.