Pride offense slowed in final doubleheader day in Kansas

SHAWNEE, Kan. - Coming off of a pair of wins to begin their weekend on Friday, the Clarke University softball team was unable to keep that momentum going into their second-straight doubleheader day in Shawnee, Kan., dropping a pair of neutral field matchups 7-1 to Bethany College then 6-1 to Concorida University Nebraska on Saturday morning and afternoon.

Against the Swedes to start the day, the Pride offense couldn't carry over their production from the day prior that saw CU score 11 runs on 19 hits despite putting at least a runner on base in all but two innings as they were only able to cash in a run home in the bottom of the third when Harlee Makue-Vasconcellos singled home Oakleigh Harmon to make the score 2-1 at the time.

Bethany was able to tack on in the next two innings with a run in the top of the fourth and a four-spot in the fifth off of Meredith Gatto, who was able to get limited action on Friday but gave up seven earned runs on nine hits with three walks and four strikeouts in four-plus innings, giving way to Ellie Flanagan in the circle following a three-run homer as the junior produced three strong innings of relief, allowing just two hits to keep that score at 7-1 following that home run.

Closing out the weekend against the Bulldogs of Concordia, Clarke was only able to manage three hits over the seven innings despite the leadoff hitter reaching in four of the seven innings as CU was able to break through on the scoreboard in the seventh when Kora Eng produced a run-scoring ground out, but that would be all they could rally for, entering the inning already down 6-0.

Senior pitcher Payge Pyszka had another solid relief appearance in the circle for the second-straight day, allowing an earned run on two hits and striking out a pair over her two innings of work as she would finish the weekend with six total innings allowing two earned runs on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

Pride softball will continue their non-conference start to the season with a spring break trip to Melbourne, Fla. to play eight games over a five-game span starting with their first two games on Mar. 6 against Michigan-Darborn and Cleary with those games slated to start at 12:15 p.m. ET/11:15 a.m. CT and 2:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. CT.