Pride softball closes out second-straight weekend at Ambrose Dome

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Facing back-to-back repeat opponents in their final set of games at the St. Ambrose Dome, the Clarke University softball team fell 9-1 against Saint Xavier University and 7-5 to St. Ambrose University on Sunday evening in Davenport, Iowa.

Struggling offensively for the third-straight game of the weekend, the Pride were only able to manage one hit in their first game on Sunday against the Cougars in the form of a Lauren Hefel RBI single in the top of the fifth inning, driving in Taryn Hoffman who walked earlier in the inning.

By that point in the game, CU had already trailed 5-0 as SXU was able to score a run in the bottom of the first, three in the third, and another in the fourth before extending that lead to eight runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game an inning early via the run rule.

In the weekend's finale against the hosts, the two teams traded crooked numbers in the first inning when Clarke put up a three-spot in the top half of the inning, only to be answered with six runs from the home team to make it a 6-3 game after a full frame.

That three-run top of the first saw the starting battery drive in the three runs with a Teal Transburg RBI fielder's choice before a two-run single by starting pitcher Ellie Flanagan made it 3-0 Pride but Flanagan would be unable to get out of the first in the circle, allowing six runs on six hits.

Meredith Gatto would enter the game in relief to settle the game down and keep it at that 6-3 score until the top of the sixth when pinch hitter Kora Eng roped a two-run double to left to cut the lead to just a run at 6-5 before the Fighting Bees added an insurance run in the bottom half to make it 7-5 entering the seventh inning.

CU was able to bring the go-ahead run to the plate with runners on first and second, down to their final out but SAU finished off the job, forcing a ground ball to short to end Clarke's comeback attempt and the game.

Hefel finished the final game of the weekend with two more hits for a three-hit day while Kaylie Holtam, Transburg, Flanagan, Eng, and seventh inning pinch hitter Alicia Amaya all recording a hit in the game while Gatto's final pitching line in relief saw the junior go 4.1 innings without allowing a run on five hits and three walks while striking out three.

Pride softball will be off from game competition over the next week before heading to Shawnee, Kan. for another four-game weekend on Feb. 27-28 where they will face Briar Cliff, Columbia, Bethany, and Concordia Nebraska at the Mid-America Sports Complex.