GREENVILLE, Ill. - The softball team was defeated in both ends of a non-conference doubleheader by St. Mary-of-the-Woods on Tuesday. The Panthers fell by one run in each game, taking a 3-2 loss in game one, followed by a 2-1 defeat in eight innings in game two. In the second game, pitchers Cayla Speaks and Caitie Opp combined to hold SMWC hitless for 7.2 innings before the Pomeroys singled in two runs in the top of the eighth.
The Panthers scored both of their game one runs in the sixth inning when they rallied to cut their deficit to 3-2. In the sixth inning, GU loaded the bases, and pinch hitter Lauren Wilson walked to provide Greenville's first run. Olivia Shipman delivered a sacrifice fly for the second run. The Panthers stranded the bases loaded.
Pitcher Kendall Farr delivered a complete game for the Panthers in the circle. Only one of the three runs she allowed was earned. She struck out three and allowed nine hits.
Kayla Zimmerman, Deidra Holzhauer, Beth Mersinger, and Farr accounted for Greenville's four hits.
Speaks and Opp's performances in the circle were the story of game two. Speaks started the game and went 4.1 innings, yielding the circle to Opp with runners on first and second and one out in the fifth. Opp induced a flyout to centerfield and a popout to the shortstop to end the inning.
With international tiebreaker rules in effect for the eighth inning, SMWC sacrificed the runner to third base for the first out. After Opp got the next batter to pop up, she walked a batter that later stole second base. The Pomeroys only hit of the game scored the runners from second and third to give them a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Greenville had runners on the corners with nobody out after a single by Speaks, and Megan Barrett singled to the pitcher to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Maegan Stone popped up on a bunt attempt for the first out, and Zimmerman hit into a fielder's choice to the left side that retired Speaks at third base. Katie Myers popped out to the second baseman on the first base line to end the game.
The Panthers (20-12) conclude their regular season next Tuesday with a doubleheader at WashU.
