MILWAUKEE – Junior Shannon Curtis threw 15.0 innings to get the win in game one of a doubleheader as the MSOE softball team split with Wisconsin Lutheran Saturday afternoon at MSOE Athletic Field.
The Raiders (1-9, 1-3 NACC) outlasted the Warriors (11-5, 3-1 NACC) through 15 innings in game one, but fell in the nightcap, 2-1, in a game shortened to five innings by darkness.
Curtis (1-4) tied a NACC record and the fifth-most innings pitched in a game in NCAA Division III history by going the distance. She scattered nine hits and worked around seven walks to strike out 10 in the game and allow just three runs.
Senior Katie Ready drove in the game-winning run with two outs in the top of the 15th inning. Senior Beth Young led off with a single and was moved to third base on a pair of sacrifice bunts. Ready then followed with a single to right field to plate the winning run.
The Warriors put two runners on with one out in the bottom half of the inning, but Curtis induced a ground out and got a strikeout to end the game.
MSOE trailed 1-0 after a single run in the third inning when it broke through for three runs in the fifth inning. Three-straight singles to start the inning loaded the bases. Two batters later, sophomore Caitlyn Moran tied the game with a single to left field. Junior Callie Wightman then put the Red & White ahead with a fly out. Young capped the scoring with a single to center.
WLC would pull a run back in the sixth inning and forced extra innings by scoring the tying run with one out in the seventh.
The game lasted 3:20 and, by innings, is the longest game in Division III this season.
Moran and Young had three hits apiece in game one, while Ready, sophomore Gabbie Garcia and freshman Emily Snow had two hits each.
The Raiders received another strong pitching performance in game two, as Moran (0-4) allowed five hits and just one earned run in 5.0 innings of work. She struck out four and did not walk a batter.
The Warriors once again scored first, claiming an unearned run in the third inning. MSOE quickly responded in the next half inning when freshman Rachel Ziemba led off with a double. She went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Moran sacrifice fly.
Abby Mahsem then gave WLC the lead for good with a one-out home run in the bottom of the fourth.
The game originally progressed into the sixth inning, with the Red & White tying the game in the top half of the frame, but the game was called due to darkness. According to NCAA rules, the score reverts to that of the last completed inning, which had Wisconsin Lutheran ahead 2-1.
Despite playing on their home field, the Raiders were the visitors in the doubleheader. The game was originally to be played at Wisconsin Lutheran, but was moved to MSOE Athletic Field because of adverse field conditions.
The Raiders are slated to return to action Sunday, hosting Concordia Wisconsin in a doubleheader. First pitch is at noon.
