MARYSVILLE – Right back into the thick of it! Macomb Softball bounced back from one of the program's toughest days in recent history to sweep the SC4 Skippers on Sunday (April 13) by a 12-8 final in game one and a 13-8 tally in game two.
The pair of wins sent the Monarchs to 10-16 overall and 7-9 in a heated playoff race in the MCCAA Eastern Conference. With the Sunday sweep, the Monarchs extended their winning streak in Marysville to 12 games (12-0) since April 16, 2022 (including last year's postseason run).
GAME ONE: Macomb 12, SC4 8
Alexa Garofalo and
Kailey Viviano blasted two home runs each to pace the Monarchs to a 12-8 win in a game that was completed nearly three weeks following its suspension due to inclement weather on March 28.
Starting Sunday up 9-8 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, the starting pitcher on March 28,
Madalyn Roberson, took to the circle once again and shut the door on the Skippers to earn her fifth win of the season.
While the big blasts of Garofalo—who did not play Sunday but homered twice on March 28— and Viviano led the way, a 2-RBI single by
Paige Muehlbrandt and a RBI single by Viviano in the seventh inning pushed a 9-8 lead out to 12-8 for the eventual win.
Raegan Hemelberg and Viviano had three hits each, while Garofalo, Muehlbrandt,
Riley McLaughlin and
Alexa Yaklin each recorded two hits.
GAME TWO: Macomb 13, SC4 8
The momentum from the opening win carried over to game two as the Monarchs tallied 13 runs on 17 hits to post a 13-8 victory.
Kailey Viviano hit a career-best three home runs in the win to push her season total to a team-leading nine home runs on the season.
Paige Muehlbrandt added a solo shot to notch her sixth home run of the campaign, while
Riley Lane went 3-for-3 and drove in a run as part of a career performance for the freshman catcher.
Savanna Smith hit a bases-clearing, pinch hit double in the fifth inning to flip a 5-5 tie into an 8-5 lead and the Monarchs never looked back in the decisive victory.
Sydney Urban followed three-hit games by Lane and Viviano with a 2-for-3 performance with two RBIs, while
Riley McLaughlin and
Aubrey Rich added two hits each to round out the offensive leaders.
Grace Dzikowski struck out six batters and scattered two hits in five-and-two-thirds innings of relief to earn the win in the circle.
UP NEXT: Home vs. Henry Ford
The Monarchs welcome Henry Ford to Warren for a MCCAA Eastern Conference doubleheader on Friday beginning at 3 p.m. The doubleheader kicks off a four-game weekend in Warren as the Monarchs host Mott on Saturday for a twin bill beginning at 1 p.m.
