(Ann Arbor, MI) - CUAA softball hosted rival Siena Heights on Thursday afternoon for their home opener. The Cardinals took game one 15-7 and won game two 7-5 on a walk-off home run by Maddy Grueter.
GAME ONE – CUAA 15, SHU 7 - 6 Innings
Paige Anderson started on the mound, making four strikeouts in 4.2 innings. The Cardinals took the lead in the first inning when Faith Cramton used an RBI single to score Payton Lewis. In the second inning, Elyse Brittain hit a solo home run for a 2-0 lead.
Siena Heights tied the game 2-2 at the top of the third, but Faith Cramton put CUAA back on top with a solo home run in the bottom half. Siena Heights tied the game 3-3 in the top of the fourth, but the Cardinals exploded for seven runs in the bottom half of the inning. Bella Lee started things off with a 2-run homer. Payton Lewis hit an RBI single to score Kaleigh McClelland and later reached home on an error. Elise Brittain hit a 2-RBI bases-loaded single to drive in Faith Cramton and Katie Tobias. Maddy Greuter capped the inning by stealing home on a double steal with Elyse Brittain.
Siena Heights tightened the game with three runs in the fifth inning. Kendall Kahl came on to pitch and threw the final 1.1 innings of the game. In the bottom half, Megan Martin hit an RBI groundout to score Kaleigh McClelland.
Siena Heights hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth. In the bottom half, Bella Lee used an RBI single to score Emmi Liptow. Bella Lee and Brooklin Cox both reached home on a fielding error to extend the lead. Katie Tobias then hit into a fielder's choice, earning an RBI to send Kaleigh McClelland home and trigger the mercy rule. CUAA claimed the 15-7 victory.
GAME TWO – CUAA 7, SHU 5
Elyse Brittain started game two on the mound, making two strikeouts in six innings of work. Both teams traded home runs in the first and second innings with Maddy Greuter hitting a solo shot in the second inning.
Siena Heights scored a run in both the fifth and sixth innings to take a 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, the Cardinals loaded the bases after Kaleigh McClelland directed a well-placed bunt over the glove of the Siena Heights fielder. Bella Lee then hit into a fielder's choice to score Maddy Greuter. Kendall Kahl went on to crush a three-run homer to clear the bases and put the Cardinals up 5-3.
Siena Heights tied the game 5-5 in the seventh inning on a two-run homer. Kendall Kahl came in to pitch and closed out the inning on the mound. In the bottom of the seventh, the Cardinals claimed the win in dramatic fashion with a two-run homer from Maddy Greuter. Lauryn Rhodea and Greuter crossed home plate to secure the 7-5 victory.
CUAA will travel to Cleary University this Saturday, March 29th, for a doubleheader starting at 1pm.
