HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 9-1 WIN IN THE OPENER

FLINT, Mich. – Another day, another split for Macomb Softball as the Monarchs went on the road to play Mott Community College and won game one, 9-1, before dropping the nightcap, 5-3. The 1-1 day shifts the Monarchs record to 14-15 overall and 8-9 in the MCCAA Eastern Conference.

At 8-9 in conference play, the Monarchs are in the third and final playoff spot awarded to the MCCAA Eastern Conference for the NJCAA Region XII Tournament. Henry Ford is right behind the Monarchs in fourth place at 6-10 in league play. The Monarchs and Hawks meet Thursday at 4 p.m. when they resume their suspended game from April 3.

The Monarchs lead the suspended game by a 4-2 tally entering the bottom of the second inning.

As for Wednesday's games at Mott, the Monarchs started game one hot and never looked back on their way to a 9-1 victory in the opener. Danielle Erickson (Sterling Heights, Mich./Sterling Heights) paced the Monarch attack with four hits, including a two-RBI double to help break the game open late. Brynn Beyer (Macomb, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North) provided the pop at the plate with a massive home run over the wall in left center. The home run, Beyer's team-leading sixth of the season, came in the third inning and gave the Monarchs an early 3-0 lead. The freshman catcher/shortstop followed Erickson's team-best four hits with a 3-for-3 performance that included pair of RBIs, one coming on the third inning blast and the other on a first inning a sac fly.

Katelyn Thomas (Macomb, Mich./Dakota) connected on a pair of doubles to round out the Monarchs with multi-hit games in the 9-1 opening win. Haley Mitchell (Memphis, Mich./Memphis) tied Beyer and Erickson with a team-best two RBIs, both coming on a fifth inning double to center field.

In the circle, Allison Vogt (Chesterfield, Mich./Anchor Bay) continued her impressive freshman campaign with another complete game victory. Vogt went the distance and did not give up an earned run in an outing where she only allowed six hits and struck out four. The win was Vogt's ninth of the season. The nine wins is tied for the most in the MCCAA Eastern Conference.

The bats were activated again in game two as the Monarchs recorded nine hits, but ultimately the Blue & White couldn't bring enough runners around to score as the Bears won, 5-3. Elizabeth Townsend (New Baltimore, Mich./Anchor Bay) posted a team-high three hits in the nightcap, while Carleigh Bilpo (Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford II) followed with two hits (2-for-3, 2B). Bilpo, Beyer and Rylee Thomas (Harrison Twp., Mich./L'Anse Creuse) all drove in run in the 5-3 decision.