Seventh Inning Rally Falls Short for Softball

OMAHA, Neb. - Doane Softball dropped game two of its GPAC doubleheader at College of Saint Mary on Monday afternoon, falling 5-4 after a late rally came up just short.

The Tigers finished with 12 hits in the contest and trimmed a three-run deficit to one in the top of the seventh, but College of Saint Mary held on to secure the conference win.

Doane threatened early, putting multiple runners on in both the first and second innings, but the Flames kept the Tigers off the board through the opening three frames. The home team then broke through in the bottom of the third.

Shaylynn Campbell delivered an RBI single to center to bring home the first run for Saint Mary. Later in the frame, Maria Perez lined a two-run single to left, giving College of Saint Mary a 3-0 advantage.

Doane answered in the fourth. Jeryn Allen was hit by a pitch with two outs, stole second, and came around to score on a run-scoring double by Jacqueline Ordonez to cut the deficit to 3-1.

The Tigers pulled even closer in the fifth when Katelyn Hays doubled and eventually came home on Ciara Hudson's RBI single to left, making it a 3-2 game.

Trinity Robinson kept Doane within striking distance for much of the afternoon, but the Flames added what proved to be the decisive runs in the bottom of the sixth. After a walk and sacrifice moved the runner into scoring position, Makenna Earnest connected on a two-run home run to center to push the College of Saint Mary lead to 5-2.

Doane made one final push in the seventh. Kayla Meyer opened the inning with a single, and pinch runner Jaiden Papik moved to third following a groundout and wild pitch. Hays then blasted a two-run homer to left field to bring the Tigers within 5-4.

The Tigers kept pressure on the Flames after the home run, as Milannie Gonzalez followed with a single, but College of Saint Mary recorded the final two outs to end the comeback bid.

Hays led Doane offensively, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored. Meyer added three hits, while Addison Parsons and Hudson each collected two hits. Ordonez finished with a double and an RBI, and Hudson also drove in a run.

Robinson threw a complete game for Doane, allowing five runs, four earned, on six hits while striking out one.

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