Softball Edged in Extra Innings to Open Park Series

PARKVILLE, Mo. — Doane softball saw a four-run fifth inning erased Monday afternoon as Park rallied for a 5-4 extra-inning win in the opening game of a doubleheader.

The Tigers moved in front 4-1 in the top of the fifth, but Park answered with three runs in the bottom half and then won it in the eighth on Anna Shrum's RBI single to right field.

Doane finished with seven hits in the contest, led by two-hit performances from Addison Parsons and Katelyn Hays. Milannie Gonzalez, Evelyn Iniguez and Jacqueline Ordonez added one hit apiece.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first, Doane broke through in the fifth. Iniguez opened the inning with a single and Lilly Lewis came on to pinch run. Ordonez followed with a bunt single before Hannah Pack moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt.

Lewis scored the tying run when Gonzalez reached on a fielder's choice and Park committed a throwing error. Gonzalez later scored on an error by the shortstop, Jeryn Allen came home on a wild pitch and Parsons singled to left-center to plate Faith McDonald for a 4-1 advantage.

All four Doane runs in the inning were unearned.

Park responded immediately in the bottom of the fifth. After a walk and a stolen base put pressure on the Tigers, Chloe Gilbert delivered the decisive blow of the inning with a three-run homer to left-center to even the score at 4-4.

The game went to extra innings, where Park capitalized in the bottom of the eighth. With the international tiebreaker runner at second, the Pirates reached on an error to put runners at second and third with no outs. Shrum then singled to right to bring home the winning run.

Natalie Ascencio started for Doane and allowed one unearned run on one hit with one strikeout in one inning. Faith McDonald worked five innings of relief, giving up four hits and three earned runs. Lauren Dick took the loss after pitching the final inning.

Hanna Vaught kept Doane in check for Park, allowing four runs — none earned — on seven hits over seven innings. Brielle Dee earned the win in relief.

Doane stranded eight runners in the game, including two in the fifth after taking the lead.

The Tigers moved to 7-9 with the loss. Park improved to 10-7.

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