DONALDSON, INDIANA – The Ancilla College softball team split a Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA) tilt with Jackson Community College, losing 5-4 in the first game and coming back to win game two by a score of 5-2.
Jackson out-executed Ancilla in game one, pulling off a dramatic comeback and handing the Chargers their first MCCAA West defeat of the season.
Ancilla got on the board early with two runs in the bottom of the first. Leadoff hitter Kaitlyn Dreibelbis singled and moved to second when Kayleigh Schroeder was hit by a pitch. Gretchen Gieseking then hit both of them in with a double. Unfortunately for the Chargers, Gieseking was left on base. It would turn out to be the first of six different innings in which Ancilla left runners in scoring position.
After a solo home run by Jackson’s Tayla Espinoza cut the Charger lead in half, Ancilla answered with two more runs in the third. Dreibelbis led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a wild pitch. A Schroeder single put runners on the corners and another wild pitch put Schroeder on second. One out later, Maura Hancock stepped to the plate and singled both runners in, giving the Chargers a 4-1 lead.
Jackson used three hits in the fifth to score another run to make the score 4-2. Then, in the top of the sixth the visiting Jets took advantage of a couple Ancilla miscues to score three unearned runs and take a 5-4 lead, which ended up being the final tally.
Ancilla made the comeback in game two to pick up a 5-2 victory.
The Chargers scored one run in the first inning. Schroeder was hit by a pitch with one out, moved to second on a Gieseking single, and scored on a Hancock single.
Jackson picked up two runs in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead, it would be the last runs they would score in the game. Ancilla pitcher Emily Steele held strong, allowing just one earned run and holding the Jets to five hits.
Ancilla tied the game in the bottom of the fifth when Hancock led off the inning with a single and was moved to second one out later on a Cortney Ferrell sacrifice. With two outs in the inning, a clutch single to center by Kayla Dell scored Hancock, making the score 2-2.
The Chargers added a three spot in the bottom of the fifth, scoring all of their runs with two outs in the inning. Schroeder started the rally with a single and scored on a Gieseking triple. Gieseking then scored on a Hancock single. Hancock hustled home when Courtney Clark lifted a fly ball to the outfield that was misplayed, giving Ancilla a 5-2 lead. Steele retired six of the last seven batters to preserve her fourth victory of the season.
Hancock finished the day 5-7 with 4 RBI. Gieseking turned in a three hit, three RBI performance, while Schroeder scored all four times she reached base, finishing the day on base in four of her seven plate appearances.
Ancilla returns to MCCAA action on Tuesday, April 3, for their first road test in the conference this season. The Chargers will take on Lansing Community College at 3:00 p.m.
