BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – In the home city of the MEC, the Point Park softball team earned its fourth-straight series split, this time against Salem in non-conference action.
GAME 1: Point Park 6, Salem 5 (11 innings)
W: Mullenaux (2-2) L: Lemley (5-4)
Point Park continued its trend of fast starts, scoring in the first inning for the fifth straight game—four of those sparked by Mia Arndt.
Arndt singled on a 2-2 count and stole second. Shania Cope followed with a single, moving Arndt to third, then stole second herself to put two runners in scoring position. Gianna Welsh drew a walk to load the bases, and Emma Henry followed with an RBI walk to score Arndt and give the Pioneers a 1–0 lead.
Salem answered in the bottom of the inning. Bella Ortiz led off with a walk and stole second, while Brooke Wise also reached on a walk. After a flyout moved Ortiz into scoring position, Jacobi Gledhill delivered an RBI single to tie the game at one.
Both teams were held scoreless until the fifth, when Point Park broke through. Ava Hubble led off with a single, followed by another hit from Arndt. Cam Mann laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Cope delivered an RBI single, scoring Hubble, and advanced to second on the throw while Arndt moved to third. Henry then singled to bring home Arndt, and Jana Hess added another RBI single to score Cope, extending the lead to 4–1.
Salem began to chip away in the sixth. Ali Shrieve doubled and later scored on a pinch-hit single from Gina Alvaro, cutting the deficit to 4–2.
In the seventh, Ortiz led off with an inside-the-park home run—her first collegiate homer—making it 4–3. Wise followed with a triple and scored on a groundout by Ali Jacobs to tie the game at four and force extra innings.
The back-and-forth battle continued into extras. In the 10th, Bella Moudy, running for Welsh as the automatic runner, moved to third on a Henry single and scored on a wild pitch to give Point Park a 5–4 lead.
Salem responded in the bottom half. With two outs, Shrieve delivered an RBI double to score the automatic runner and tie the game at five.
In the 11th, Arndt started as the automatic runner at second. Mann moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt, and Arndt scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.
Salem threatened again in the bottom of the inning, advancing its automatic runner to third, but Jaylyn Mullenaux shut the door—inducing a pop-up before striking out the final batter to secure the win.
Julia Johnson started for Point Park, pitching eight innings and allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out four. Mullenaux earned the win in relief, tossing three innings and allowing one unearned run on two hits.
GAME 2: Salem 6, Point Park 4
W: Wise (2-2) L: Henry (1-5)
Point Park once again jumped out to an early lead. Arndt singled to open the game and stole second, remaining perfect on the season in stolen base attempts. Cam Mann reached on a fielder's choice, and a throwing error allowed Arndt to score while Mann advanced to third. Cope followed with another fielder's choice that brought Mann home, giving the Pioneers a 2–0 lead.
Salem responded in the second inning, scoring four runs—all with two outs—to take a 4–2 lead. Each run in the inning was unearned.
Point Park cut into the deficit in the third. Cope led off with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Henry. Jana Hess singled to move Cope to third, and Payton Haller drove her in with an RBI single to make it 4–3.
Arndt stayed hot in the fourth, collecting another single and stealing a base before eventually scoring on a Salem error to tie the game at four.
The Tigers regained control in the fifth. Wise drew a one-out walk and advanced on a Gledhill single. After a walk loaded the bases, Shrieve delivered a two-run single, scoring Wise and Addison King to give Salem a 6–4 lead.
Salem held on the rest of the way. Wise earned the complete-game victory, allowing four runs (one earned) on seven innings of work. Henry took the loss for Point Park, pitching six innings and allowing six runs, three of which were earned.
With the split, Point Park moves to 7–12 overall and 2–2 in MEC play. Salem improves to 9–12 and does not have a conference record as they are an independent NCAA Division II program.
UP NEXT
Point Park returns home for a 10-game homestand, with all games scheduled at Fairhaven Park.
The Pioneers will host Fairmont State on Saturday and Frostburg State on Sunday, with game one both days set for 1:00 p.m.
