BRANSON, Mo. – The York University softball team split a doubleheader on Friday, downing Graceland 2-1 before falling to Park in nine innings by a 3-2 score.
The Panthers are now 2-8 on the season.
Trailing 1-0 in the second inning to Graceland,
Taylor Larson reached on an error and took second on a sacrifice bunt. She hustled to third on a wild pitch before tying the contest on
Lydia Slocum's groundout.
Larson was dominant in the circle, not allowing another run. In the sixth,
Morgan Cameron knocked a one-out single into right field and promptly stole second base.
Shannon Nelson laid down a sacrifice bunt, pushing Cameron to third.
Caitlyn Dannenfelzer's single to center field plated Cameron for what turned out to be the game-winning run.
Larson allowed Graceland to get a runner on second base before forcing a fly ball to end the sixth. She then retired the side in order, including the last two via strikeouts, to secure the one-run victory.
For the game, Cameron, Dannenfelzer and
Brooklyn Hadl recorded hits. Dannenfelzer and Slocum each drove in a run while Cameron and Larson scored.
Larson tossed a complete game for the win. She struck out five and gave up just one run on three hits with only one walk.
Against Park, the designated visitors pushed across a run in the top of the first. Cameron reached on an error and swiped second before being erased on a fielder's choice. Nelson reached second on a steal, but back-to-back outs ended the threat.
Hadl registered an infield hit in the second, but a groundout ended the stanza.
The Panthers had a pair of base runners on in the second, but
Kailyn Ruckman was out after reaching third and Nelson was left stranded.
York knotted the score at 1-1 in the sixth. Cameron reached on an error and moved to second on a fielder's choice. Two batters later,
Taylor Jones roped a single to right field, knotting the score.
After forcing extra frames, Park managed to plate two runs in the ninth. The Panthers pulled within one when Cameron scored on Larson's base hit to left field. Nelson moved to third when Jones reached on a fielder's choice, which erased Larson. Dannenfelzer pinch ran for Jones and swiped second, putting the winning run in scoring position. However, a groundout ended the game.
For the game, Nelson had a pair of hits. Jones and Larson each drove in one while Cameron scored twice.
In the circle,
Ashley Falk tossed a complete game. She had five strikeouts and gave up just one earned run on nine hits.
The Panthers return to action tomorrow when they take on Viterbo at 9:30 a.m. and Waldorf at 11:30 a.m. Live stats and video can be found on Yorkpanthers.com.
