Mishawaka, Ind. --- The Bethel Pilots Softball team (1-13, 0-4) lost two challenging home conference games in their first-time stepping foot on Garnder Field this season on Monday, where the Pilots lost 3-2 and 8-6 to the Spring Arbor Cougars (13-3, 4-2).
GAME 1
It was a pitchers' duel between Ryann Norris of Bethel and Emmalee Hamp of Spring Arbor for the first three scoreless innings. The Cougars broke the silence in the top of the fourth inning with an RBI single to score Hamp. Spring Arbor also scored on an error to first to take a 2-0 lead.
Meghan Younger put the Pilots on the board in the bottom of the fourth frame with a sacrifice fly to second base in the shallow outfield to make the score 2-1.
Hamp helped herself with an RBI double to plate an insurance run of 3-1; Younger made one last push in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single to fall short by one run in game one, 3-2.
Ryann Norris fought valiantly despite the loss after a complete game allowing six hits on three runs (two earned), no walks, and struck out six.
GAME 2
Bethel got on the board early with a two-RBI single by Marissa Navarrette to put the Pilots ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first.
Spring Arbor bit back in the top of the third with three runs by two RBI singles and an RBI double, but Bethel had an answer with a Kate Cooper RBI double and a Marissa Navarrette sacrifice fly to retake the lead 4-3.
Emmie Pugh plated an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI single and advanced to second on the throw home to put herself in scoring position but could not take advantage.
The lead changed again in the top of the fifth as the Cougars tied the game on two unearned runs, first on an error, then a walked-in run.
The Cougars took the lead for the second time by a fielder's choice on the ground to the third baseman, then two more runs were scored in the top of the seventh on an error.
Bethel got back one run in the bottom of the seventh, but the Pilots could not complete the walk-off and left Gardner Field with an 8-6 loss in game two.
Hannah Frady battled in a complete game outing allowing 17 hits, eight runs (four earned), walking one, and striking out four batters.
NEXT TIME OUT
Bethel continues the six-game homestand on Tuesday, Mar. 21, with a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. and finishes the homestand with RV Mount Vernon Nazarene on Friday, Mar. 24, with another doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. Catch all the action on the Bethel Sports Network at bupilots.com/watch.
For the latest information on each of Bethel University's 31 intercollegiate athletic teams, visit BUPilots.com or follow the Pilots on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @BUPilots or on YouTube at /BethelSportsNetwork.
