No-hitter, Record-breaking Home run Highlights MU Softball Weekend
Kody Smith
With one swing of the bat and one incredible outing on the mound, Manchester University’s softball team capped off a double-header with Hanover on Saturday, April 21 with a 2-0 victory over the Hanover Panthers.
Game one was not a favorable match-up for the Spartans, as the Panthers struck for nine runs on 14 hits to secure a 9-0 win over the black-and-gold. Although MU clobbered eight hits, the timely offense just was not there for Manchester, as the team stranded ten runners on the base paths. Junior first baseman Sydney Thompson delivered two hits in four trips to the plate, which included a double. First year catcher Alexis Mokos and senior right fielder Mallorie Jennings pitched in two hits each as well.
The Spartans rallied back in game number two, not allowing all of the momentum to shift to the side of the HCAC opposition. The offense started early, as senior standout Laurren Ladwig belted a two-run homerun to give MU a 2-0 lead following the first finning of play. Although the blast catapulted the Spartans to the victory, Ladwig will remember this homerun for another reason. As the ball sailed over the fence, Ladwig now stands alone at the top of the HCAC leaderboard for most homeruns hit in a single season with 16 round-trippers.
From the batter’s box to the pitching circle, first year Haley Perez produced a gem on the mound, not allowing a hit over seven innings of work. The first year hurled the first Manchester no-hitter since 2013, as the two runs scored in the first inning proved to be all that Perez needed to secure the victory for the club.
Mokos and Thompson added to their already impressive offensive totals from the game prior, as the duo recorded two hits once again in game number two to pace the offensive performance.
Manchester concludes the 2018 regular with a lengthy road trip, as the Spartans will travel to Transylvania for a double-header with the Pioneers on Saturday, April 28. The first pitch time for game number one is slated for 1:00 p.m. with game two to follow. Live statistics for the contests can be found at www.muspartans.com.