ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. – The MSOE softball team closed out their Pioneer Classic slate on Sunday afternoon, as the Red and White dropped a back-and-forth game one to Hanover College before falling to Millikin University in their second outing.

RESULTS

MSOE RAIDERS – 6
Hanover College - 7

Millikin University - 8
MSOE RAIDERS - 0

HOW IT HAPPENED

• vs Hanover
  • MSOE (3-7) trailed Hanover right out of the gates as the Panthers tagged the Raiders for three runs in the first inning, before upping their lead to 5-0 by the end of the second.  The Red and White would finally get on the board in the third inning, as Jayda Nelson singled to center field, bringing Rikka Ludvigson and Brynn Kerber around to cut the MSOE deficit to three runs.  On the very next at-bat, Carlee Emery would single down the right field line, allowing Nelson to score, ending the inning with Hanover ahead 5-3.
  • In the fifth inning, Emery would come up clutch for the Red and White, blasting a two-run homerun to tie the game up at 5-5, giving the Raiders a fresh start with two innings left to play.  Caroline Fouras reached first on a single before stealing second base in the sixth inning, putting a run in scoring position with one out for MSOE.  Ludvigson would drive a single to center field, allowing Fouras to score and giving MSOE a 6-5 lead, their first of the game.
  •  In the bottom of the seventh, the Panthers led of with a single, before an error on MSOE put runners on first and second with no outs.  After a sacrifice bunt advanced the runners, Hanover would slap a single to centerfield, bringing both runs around as the Raiders lost in walk-off fashion.
• vs Millikin
  • In game two, the Raiders would fall behind Millikin after another dose of early inning damage, with MSOE trailed 3-0 after two innings played.  The Red and White would record their first hit of the game in the fourth inning, as Lylah DeArmond looked to spark a Raider rally, but the Big Blue would record two quick outs to stop it before it could start. 
  • Trailing 8-0 in the bottom of the seventh, Reese Konczal singled and Emma Smith doubled to jump start the MSOE offense, with Gabby Ruchniewicz pinch running for Konczal and scoring on a wild pitch to put the Raiders on the board.  Despite the late dramatics, it was all Big Blue as Millikin ran away with the 8-1 win.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

• vs Hanover
  • Jayda Nelson – 2 for 3, Double, Walk, 2 RBI, 2 Runs
  • Carlee Emery – 2 for 4, Homerun, 3 RBI, Run

 
WHO'S ON DECK
The Raiders have one more doubleheader left in Kentucky, as they gear up for a matchup with Transylvania University on Tuesday, March 15^th.  Game one is set to begin at 4:00 P.M. (ET)

For up-to-the-minute MSOE Raiders news, visit us at MSOERaiders.com. You can also follow the Red & White on Twitter @MSOE_Raiders and @msoe_raiders on Instagram.