MYRTLE BEACH, SC
The UMPI Softball team started their spring trip to Myrtle Beach with a pair of contests. They took on Stevenson University out of Maryland at 9am, followed by Martin Luther College out of Minnesota at 11am. UMPI ran into some trouble in the first inning vs. Stevenson, falling 10-0, but came back and played from ahead against MLC, en-route to a 7-6 victory.
Game 1: (10-0 Mustangs)
How it Happened:
The Owls just couldn't seem to get out of the first inning against Stevenson, as the Mustangs advantage of a walk and an error, as well as a lot of well-placed hits. Despite retiring the first batter of the game, Stevenson plated nine runs in the first which proved to be all the difference the rest of the way. UMPI got some baserunners on in every inning from the 2nd and on, but just couldn't get anyone across. Stevenson added one more in the 4th inning, and could cruise to the rune-rule victory
At the Plate:
Emma McNally went 1-3 out of the leadoff spot for the Owls, including a double in the 3rd inning. Megan Bucholz also had a double, going 1-2 on the day. Zoe Stewart and Avery VonKadich had the other two hits for the Owls as they finished the day with four hits. Nobody walked and nobody reached on an error, putting a lot of pressure on the bats for their first game in Myrtle.
In the Circle:
Megan Bucholz made her first appearance of the year, getting the start, and tossing the whole way. She threw five innings, allowing 10 eared, and striking out two.
Game 2: (7-6 Owls)
How it Happened:
The Owls were happy to see the bats come alive in a big way for their second game of the day. They took on the Martin Luther Knights who were already 10 games deep into their schedule and on their sixth game at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. This time as the visitors, the Owls were able to set the tone early as Gracelyn Walsh delivered an RBI single to make it 1-0 Owls. The Knights answered in the bottom of the first, tying it at one run apiece. UMPI added one more in the second thanks to a couple MLC errors. But the scoring continued, as the Knights added two more in their half of the 2nd inning to make 3-2 after two innings.
After both teams went quietly in the 3rd inning, UMPI got back after it in the 4th when Abby Doughty singled to left to get things started. Caileyann Cotta earned her first-career RBI with a single to center to score Doughty. Zoe Stewart got another RBI single later in the inning to give UMPI the lead again. The Owls got out of a mini-jam in the 4th to keep the lead, and then added two more runs in the thanks to some more timely hitting with RBI from Abby Doughty and Avery VonKadich.
In the 6th, the Owls added an insurance run to take a four-run lead going into the final inning as they led 7-3, though they'd have to survive a big punch from the Knights to earn the win. In the last of the 7th, MLC got the first two runners on and in scoring position. A groundout back to the pitcher got the first out of the inning but allowed a run to score. Another ground out to the pitcher resulted in the same. With two outs, UMPI led 7-5. With the bases empty, a two-out triple extended the rally. A single brought her in, putting the tying run on base.
Gracelyn Walsh dug deep for the Owls however, and got the last batter to pop out to first base, as the Owls hung on for their first victory of 2025.
At the Plate:
The Owls bats came alive in this one as they recorded 10 hits. Three players had a pair of hits: Zoe Stewart, Gracelyn Walsh, and Megan Bucholz. Stewart and Walsh went 2-4, while Bucholz went 2-3. The other hits came from Sabrina Kauffman, Abby Doughty, Avery VonKadich and Caileyann Cotta. Five Owls had Rbi as well: Stewart, Walsh, Doughty, VonKadich and Cotta. Emma McNally scored twice as she got on and around the bases from the leadoff spot. Walsh and Bucholz each had a double.
In the Circle:
Gracelyn Walsh tossed the distance, going all seven innings, allowing six, and 13 hits. She struck out two batters while walking only two. Despite the late game surge from MLC, Walsh dug deep and delivered the first win of the year for the Owls, and the fifth pitching win of her career.
Next Up:
The Owls will have an off day after Monday's cancelations. They will get back to the diamond on Tuesday, the 18th, squaring off with Stevenson University again for a 9am start. (This is a makeup for the Monday morning game which was postponed).
