WARREN – Macomb Softball had their chances throughout Saturday's (April 19) twin bill against the MCCAA East leading Mott Community College Bears but couldn't bring the runs in to secure a win as the visitors won game one, 6-2, before taking game two, 6-3. The pair of hard-fought, narrow setbacks sends the Monarchs to 12-18 overall and 9-11 in the MCCAA East.

With the top three teams from the MCCAA East clinching an automatic berth into one of the two double-elimination Great Lakes District Tournaments (A or B), the Monarchs will seek a strong finish to the regular season as they continue to jockey for playoff positioning.

New for 2025 only, the fourth seed (fourth team in the standings) out of the MCCAA East will play in a single elimination play-in game against the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) No. 3 seed for the opportunity to secure a spot in the Great Lakes District A Tournament. If the season ended today, the Monarchs would be the No. 4 seed from the MCCAA East. The single-elimination game will take place at a neutral site between May 5-7.

GAME ONE: Mott 6, Macomb 2
The Monarchs had runners in scoring position early and often, but couldn't break through until the seventh inning on a RBI double by Savanna Smith and a run driven in by Raegan Hemelberg.

Riley McLaughlin led the Monarchs in the opener with a 2-for-3 performance, while Hemelberg, Smith and Paige Muehlbrandt had a double each.

Smith was also the game one pitcher and went on to strike out four while only giving up five hits.

GAME TWO: Mott 6, Macomb 3
Trailing 3-0 after a half inning of play, the Monarchs responded with a two-run home half of the first on a 2-RBI double by Madalyn Roberson that plated Raegan Hemelberg and Kailey Viviano. Trailing 3-2 in the fourth, Hemelberg stepped to the plate and connected on her second home run of the season to tie the game, 3-3, through four innings of play.

The Bears answered with a home run of their own, a 3-run shot, that resulted in the 6-3 final tally.

Madalyn Roberson got the start and pitched a strong game to go along with a 1-for-3 performance at the plate with two RBIs. Five other Monarchs had hits in game two, led by Savanna Smith who doubled for the second time Saturday afternoon.