The MCC softball team was finally at home over the weekend. On Saturday, March 23 the Tigers took on Ellsworth Community College in a double header with the first game starting at 1 PM. The following day, the Lakers of Iowa Lakes came to town to play two also starting at 1 PM.
Game 1
Saturday's games got off to a rough start for the home team. The first batter of the game for ECC reached base on an error and advanced to second in the next at bat on a wild pitch. Following an out, Gwen Hovorka singled for the panthers to put runners on the corners. Hovorka advanced to second on a groundout to third base to put two runners in scoring position with two outs. A two out single up the middle for Morgan Schuler plated the first two Panther runs before MCC pitcher, Saydee Terrell induced a 5-3 groundout to end the top of the first.
The Tigers were unable to get much going in their half of the first and entered the second inning trailing 0-2.
The Panthers put together a long top of the second inning. Morgan Smith led off and was plunked. The ECC hitters followed up with back to back singles and a walk before Terrell sat down Harlie Durr looking. However, the next three batters strung together three straight singles before Wright again grounded out 5-3. Following another single and walk, the Tigers finally recorded their third out of the inning on a popup to left field by Ivy Aulwes. But the damage had been done as the Panthers plated seven runs.
Again the Tigers went scoreless in the bottom of the second and trailed 0-9 after two innings complete.
The game continued in this fashion for much of the five innings. Other than a two-run homerun by Nicolette Dabbs to score herself and Nell Skeath who had reached on an error two batters prior, there weren't many bright spots for the Tigers.
At the end of five innings, the Panthers won 21-2.
Game 2
The Tiger pitching and defense fared much better in the second game of the day as they sent McKaylee Dawson to the circle. The freshman threw a complete game while giving up just two runs on seven hits while striking out six Panthers.
The Tigers meanwhile scored seven runs on five hits as the Panthers struggled with errors defensively. The Tigers got on the board in the third inning with a two-run homerun after sophomore, Kaylee Hanks, reached base earlier in the inning via error.
The Tigers scored two more in the fourth as they were able to string together a few hits. Kylie Swan led off with a single which was followed up by a double by AnnaMarie Armstrong. Hanks hit into a fielder's choice before Aliyah Scott and Saydee Terrell each drove in runs.
The Tigers added one insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as Nicolette Dabbs reached second on a pair of errors and eventually scored.
MCC held ECC scoreless in the top of the seventh to take game two 5-2.
Game 3
Dawson was back pitching on Sunday and worked a quick top of the first inning against the Lakers to leave them scoreless. The Tigers got on the scoreboard first when Saydee Terrell took a 1-2 pitch deep to left center for a leadoff homerun. The shot by Terrell would be a sign of things to come for the sophomore as she took advantage of a breeze blowing straight out the left field.
The Lakers responded in the top of the first with two runs courtesy of two Tiger errors. The game moved into the third inning at 2-1 Lakers after the Tigers went three up, three down in the bottom of the second.
Two more runs were tacked on by the visiting team in the top of the third when Tiana Soto recorded a two out, two run double.
After a pair of outs for the Tigers, Terrell was back to the plate for the home team in the bottom of the third and again went deep to left field for her second solo shot of the day. However, the Tigers still trailed 4-2.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Tigers again shut down the Lakers in the top half of the fifth. A leadoff double by Dawson was spoiled by her getting thrown out trying to advance to third. The next batter, Armstrong was hit by a pitch to put a runner on first with one out. DJ Schmidt then popped up on the infield to bring Terrell back to the plate with two outs. This time the sophomore had a runner in front of her and again she went yard. The two run shot tied the game and that's how it remained heading into the top of the sixth.
The Lakers went on to score three more runs in the sixth and seventh innings while the Tigers were unable to get any runners into scoring position.
Iowa Lakes took the first game of the afternoon 7-4.
Game 4
Game four got out of hand quickly for the Tigers as the Lakers put seven runs on the board in the first two innings.
After opening up the early lead, the Lakers went to their bullpen and their bench. The moves proved costly as the Tigers offense came to life again behind Terrell. The sophomore went on to blast two more home runs as the Tigers scored eight runs in the game.
But the offense wasn't near enough as the Tiger pitching and defense struggled and gave up 24 runs on 18 hits as the Lakers cruised to a 24-8 victory.
