WINONA LAKE, Ind. – The Mount Vernon Nazarene University softball team (18-2, 8-0) swept Grace College (8-13, 5-5) on Wednesday, March 30, to extend its winning streak to 15 games.
MVNU fell behind 3-0 after three. The Lady Cougars tied it with runs in the top of the sixth on RBI from Kaycee Ollis, Maddison Ruhl and Maddelyn Wine. In extra innings, Ollis gave MVNU its first lead in the top of the eighth with a homer. The Lancers responded in the bottom of the inning with a run to tie it again. In the top of the 12th, MVNU scored the winning run after Kylee Matern hit an RBI single to bring Kennady Ruhl home. Grace went down in its half, allowing MVNU to escape with a 5-4 win.
Sheridan Sullivan got the start and pitched six innings, allowing seven hits and three runs. Sullivan struck out eight. Maddelyn Wine pitched two innings of relief, allowing two hits and one earned run. Nadia Hoffman pitched four shutout innings in relief. The freshman struck out five while allowing just one hit and no runs to pick up the win.
In Game 2, trailing 2-1 in the third, MVNU scored seven runs in the top of the inning to capture all momentum. Due to darkness and rain, the game was declared final after six innings with MVNU holding a 9-3 advantage. Mackenzie Hancock was 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBI, and Macee Marcum finished 1-for-2 with two RBI as well.
Hoffman picked up her second win of the day for MVNU after pitching five innings. She struck out four and allowed two hits and two earned runs.
