MELBOURNE, Fla. – What a way to end the spring trip for Macomb Softball! The Monarchs cruised in Friday's (March 10) opener, topping Culver-Stockton in run-rule fashion, 12-2, and culminated their trip with a 4-3 walk-off victory over Bryant & Stratton-Wisconsin. The sweep extends the Monarchs winning streak to four games and brings the team's record to an even 6-6 to wrap up their time in Florida.
GAME ONE: Macomb 12, Culver-Stockton 2 (5 inn.)
The bats erupted for 12 runs on 14 hits in a 12-2 run-rule victory over familiar foe, Culver-Stockton College. Six of the 12 runs were driven in off the bat of
Rylee Thomas (Harrison Twp., Mich./L'Anse Creuse) as the sophomore shortstop/catcher had a career day at the plate. Thomas went 3-for-4 with an incredible stat line that included six RBIs and two triples. The six runs driven in and the two triples were both career-highs for Thomas.
While Thomas led the offensive charge, several other Monarchs enjoyed red-hot days at the plate with
Danielle Erickson (Sterling Heights, Mich./Sterling Heights) tying Thomas for the team-lead hits with three (3-for-4, RBI, 2 R).
Savanna Clark (St. Clair, Mich./St. Clair) went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored and
Carleigh Bilpo (Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford II) went an equal 2-for-3 with two doubles and a pair of runs scored.
Elizabeth Townsend (New Baltimore, Mich./Anchor Bay) lifted her batting average to .516 and OPS to 1.272 with a 2-for-4 day at the plate that included a double and three RBIs.
Allison Vogt (Chesterfield, Mich./Anchor Bay) earned her team-leading third win of the season with another stellar performance in the circle for head coach
Jim Beard and the Monarchs. The former Anchor Bay standout struck out seven batters to lift her season tally to 28 through four starts and only surrendered one earned run in five innings of work.
GAME TWO: Macomb 4, Bryant & Stratton-Wisconsin 3
What a game and what a finish in Florida! Down 3-0 entering the seventh and final inning, the Monarchs refused to back down and came all the way back to plate four runs and win in walk-off fashion.
Natalie Lerchenfeld (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) was part of the early momentum in the inning with a single to center field to put runners on the corners.Two batters later,
Emma Lautenbach (Warren, Mich./Center Line) recorded a sac fly for the first run and
Danielle Erickson stayed hot at the plate with 2-RBI single to center that tied the game, 3-3, when Lerchenfeld and
Katelyn Thomas (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) came around to score. After Bryant & Stratton walked the bases loaded,
Carleigh Bilpo stepped to the plate and was credited with the game-winning RBI when she was hit by a pitch to result in the 4-3 walk-off win.
Erickson (3-for-4, 2 RBI, R) and
Rylee Thomas (2-for-3) led the Monarchs offensively while
Carly Sierzenga (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) held Bryant & Stratton to three runs while striking out three batters for her second win of the season.
UP NEXT
The Monarchs will return home to snowy Michigan this weekend and will be off from game action until March 21 when they begin MCCAA Eastern Conference play at Oakland Community College.
