Point Park Softball opens RSC play with a split versus Alice Lloyd (Ky.)

PIPPA PASSES, Ky.—Point Park opened up River States Conference play on Monday against Alice Lloyd (Ky.) with an RSC East Division doubleheader. Alice Lloyd took game one from the Pioneers with a score of 7-3 while Point Park fought back with a game two win with a score of 5-2 to split the opening series with the Eagles. 

Game 1:

Alice Lloyd's offense proved to be too strong for Point Park to overcome in game one. Alice Lloyd put up 10 hits and seven runs in the game one win.

The Eagles started the scoring off in the bottom of the first with a double to center by Aspyn Branham to score Mckenzie Orfield putting Alice Lloyd up 1-0 going into the top of the second.

Point Park answered with their own run in the top of the second to tie the game on a single by Hayley O'Neil to left field plating Gianna Welsh.

Alice Lloyd's offense exploded in the third inning for a four-run inning. The Eagles scoring started on a line drive single to left field by Orfield to plate Rachel Rife. Two more singles by the Eagles from Ellie Keene and Audrey Mowell scored Orfield and eventually Keene pusing the score to 5-1 in favor of Alice Lloyd.

The Eagles scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on an error at shortstop that allowed Rife and Orfield to score extending the Eagles lead to 7-1. 

The Pioneers tried to mount a comeback but were only able to score two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Melanie Taylor started the inning with a single to the shortstop followed up by a Mia Arndt walk.

With two runners on, Mara Iagnemma hit a fly ball to the centerfielder that was dropped for an error allowing Taylor to score. Gianna Welsh followed up with a ground out to shortstop that allowed Arndt to score. This made the score 7-3 but the Pioneers were not able to break through again.

Jaylyn Mullenax started in the circle for the Pioneers and was tagged with the loss. Mullenax threw 4.0 innings giving up nine hits, seven runs of which five were earned while issuing two walks and striking out four. 

Kristyna Mala came in to relieve Mullenax and threw the last 2.0 innings only issuing one hit and one walk while striking out three.

Melanie Taylor and Hayley O'Neil lead the Pioneers offense with two hits a piece while Taylor picked up a run and O'Neil with an RBI. Gianna Welsh went 1 for 4 picking up the other RBI on the day.

The loss dropped Point Park to 4-5 overall and 0-1 in conference play while Alice Lloyd moved to 10-5 overall and 1-0 in conference. 

Game 2:

Point Park turned up the offense for game two scoring five runs on eight hits to route Alice Lloyd 5-2.

Point Park started the scoring immediately as they plated three runs in the first inning. With two runners on Gianna Welsh hit a single to left field scoring Melanie Taylor who had gotten on by an error on the left fielder.

Sydnie Reese followed up Welsh with an RBI of her own on a ground out to shortstop that allowed Mara Iagnemma to score.

Pinch runner Mackenzie Moore, running for Welsh, also scored in the inning pushing the lead to 3-0 going into the bottom of the first.

Alice Lloyd scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Aspyn Branham hit a single to right field to score Mckenzie Orfield followed up by a ground out by Kirsten Vice to score Maleigh McDaniel who had reached base on a single to right field. These two runs made the game 3-2 still in favor of Point Park.

Point Park did not score again until the fifth inning. Taylor picked up her first hit of the game on a single to left field. Hayley O'Neil then layed down a sacrifice bunt to move Taylor to over. Iagnemma then hit a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed Taylor to score extending the Pioneers lead to two.

The Pioneers picked up one more run in the sixth inning. Mia Arndt hit a line drive single to the left side where she then scored on a sacrifice bunt by Raigan Chavez following an error by the second basemen. This was the final run of the game scored by either team giving Point Park the win with a final score of 5-2.

Savannah Lee threw all 7.0 innings allowing only four hits and two runs in which all were earned. Lee issued only one walk while picking up two strikeouts for the win.

Gianna Welsh and Melanie Taylor led the Pioneer offense picking up two hits apiece in the win. Iagnemma, Kristyna Mala, Arndt, and Chavez picked up the remaining hits.

With the win Point Park evened out their record at 5-5 overall while moving to 1-1 in conference play. Alice Lloyd dropped to 10-6 overall while falling to 1-1 in conference play as well.