NORTH CANTON, Ohio – Point Park softball opened its six-game road trip with a split against Walsh, taking game one 3-2, before falling 4-1 in game two.
Game 1: Point Park 3, Walsh 2
W: Julia Johnson (4–3) | L: Lindsay Leeds (0–2)
After a scoreless first inning on both sides, Walsh struck first in the bottom of the second. Sydney Cottrell worked a nine-pitch at-bat to draw a walk and advanced to second on a Hope Barrett single to left. Danielle Lude grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, but Cottrell came around to score on the play, giving the Cavaliers a 1–0 lead.
Point Park was held hitless through the first three innings before sophomore transfer Corrine Wright sparked the offense with a first-pitch double to center. Cam Mann followed with a single to center, advancing to second on the throw, while Wright moved to third.
Two batters later, Jana Hess tied the game with an RBI single to center, scoring Wright and moving Mann to second. Hess then stole second, which proved pivotal. Emma Henry followed with a single, allowing Mann to score, and Hess later crossed the plate on an error to give the Pioneers a 3–1 lead after three and a half innings.
Walsh answered in the bottom of the fourth when Lude doubled on the first pitch she saw. Two batters later, Janne Jaffee delivered an RBI double to left, cutting the deficit to 3–2.
Walsh left at least one runner on base in every inning, but it wasn't enough. Julia Johnson earned her fourth win of the season, improving to 4–3, while both Johnson and Leeds threw complete games. Leeds recorded seven strikeouts, giving up 3 runs, only two of them earned.
Game 2: Walsh 4, Point Park 1
W: Maci Smythe (5–1) | L: Jaylyn Mullenaux (0–2)
Point Park got off to a quick start in game two. Mia Arndt singled on the second pitch of the game and stole second, remaining perfect on the season in stolen base attempts. Two batters later, Mann singled to center, advancing Arndt to third. During Jana Hess's at-bat, Mann was caught stealing, but Arndt scored on the throw to give the Pioneers a 1–0 lead.
Walsh tied the game in the bottom of the third. Lude drew a walk, and Ava Littlin followed with a double to center, moving Lude to third. Maddie Burge then lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Lude and evening the score at 1–1.
From there, Walsh took control. Point Park went down in order four times, with three of its four hits coming in the first inning.
The Cavaliers broke the tie in the fifth. Burge reached on an error and advanced to second on a groundout. After a wild pitch moved her to third, Lindsay Bingham drew a two-out walk. During Sydney Cottrell's at-bat, another wild pitch allowed Burge to score an unearned run. Cottrell then hit an RBI single to bring home Bingham for a 3-1 advantage.
In the sixth, Leeds led off with a single, and pinch runner Maria Walder advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Walder stole third and scored on a Littlin single, extending the lead to 4–1, which held as the final.
Maci Smythe earned the win for Walsh, improving to 5–1. She allowed four hits—three in the first inning—and struck out four. For Point Park, Jaylyn Mullenaux took the loss, allowing three runs (one earned) in two innings of relief. Emma Henry started and went four innings, giving up two hits and one run.
Up Next
Point Park moves to 4–9 on the season, while Walsh goes to 7–9. The Pioneers will open conference play this weekend, traveling to West Liberty on Sunday for a doubleheader scheduled at noon and 2 p.m.
Schedule Update:
Point Park will face Wheeling on Monday at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Highlands Sports Complex (outdoor fields) in MEC action. The doubleheader was moved from Saturday to Monday due to field conditions at WU.
