Box Score FOND DU LAC, Wis. – MSOE softball, winners of their last two games, headed north to start the 2021 NACC tournament which features divisional rounds to start due to the altered format of the season thanks to COVID-19. Waiting for them was host Marian, the same exact squad they have faced off against in the past four games. The Raiders jumped out to an early lead and bounced back from adversity later on to win the opening game of the playoffs.
RESULTS
No. 3 Seed Marian – 4
No. 2 Seed MSOE RAIDERS – 5
HOW IT HAPPENED
No. 2 seed MSOE (29-6, 15-5 NACC North) struck first in Thursday afternoon's contest, putting No. 3 seed Marian (22-19, 10-10 NACC North) in a early hole. Singles from Jenna Trewyn and Lauren Stefanczyk drove in a pair of runs for the Red & White as they scored two in the bottom of the first. The duo would go ahead and do the same exact thing in the third to put the Raiders up by four. Unfortunately, the Sabres found the scoresheet as well and tied the game in the top half of the fourth inning with a solo and three-run homer. Tied at 4-4, Grace Salaja led off the MSOE fifth with a bunt single. The freshman would then steal both second and third before scoring the game winning run on a wild pitch. Lorrin Pondo went the distance, striking out five and grabbing her 16th win of the season in the 5-4 Red & White victory.
MSOE STAT TRACKER – TWO GAME TOTALS
Hits – Four with two
Runs Scored – Kara McKenna & Grace Salaja (2)
RBIs – Jenna Trewyn & Lauren Stefanczyk (2)
Stolen Bases – Grace Salaja (2)
Strikeouts – Lorrin Pondo (5)
WHO'S ON DECK
The Raiders next game will be tomorrow afternoon at 4:00 pm against No. 1 seed Concordia Wisconsin. A win will automatically move them to the championship round on Saturday. A loss will send them into an elimination game at 7:00 pm tomorrow evening.
For up-to-the-minute MSOE Raiders news, visit us at www.go-raiders.com. You can also follow the Red & White on Twitter @MSOE_Raiders and @msoe_raiders on Instagram.
