Clarke Splits Doubleheader Against Graceland
DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Clarke University softball team (7-9, 1-3 Heart) split its doubleheader with Graceland University on Monday, winning the first game 4-3 and falling 5-4 in the second.
The first game saw the Yellowjackets (6-11, 2-2) strike first at the top of the third inning with an RBI double to right field. Sophomore pitcher Malarie Huseman bounced back quickly, retiring the final batter of the inning by way of a groundout to Elizabeth Leverton at short stop. Graceland tacked on a run in the fourth inning when a runner scored on a wild pitch, and again at the top of the fifth by way of an RBI single to go up 3-0.
Clarke remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth, when Lindsey Herrmann doubled to left, scoring Leverton and advancing Daija Bates to third. The run sparked a come-from-behind effort, which continued with an RBI single from Huseman, scoring Bates, followed by a two RBI single to right field from Mercy DeRyke that scored Huseman and Herrmann to put the Pride up 4-3.
Huseman started the top of the seventh inning with a swinging strikeout, followed by a Yellowjacket flying out to Lily King in center field and a pop up to Leverton for the final out.
Graceland registered five hits while the Pride finished with 11. Individually, Leverton led the team with three, followed by King, Huseman and DeRyke with two each. DeRyke had two RBIs, followed by Huseman and Herrmann with one. In the circle, Huseman pitched a complete game, retiring seven batters while only allowing two walks.
The second game saw scoring right from the start, as the Yellowjackets jumped out to a 1-0 lead off a home run in the first inning. After walking the following batter, freshman pitcher Aris Tyler got the Pride out of the inning after a Yellowjacket flew out to center field.
Three innings later, Graceland would tack on four more runs to go up 5-0. However, Clarke got right back into the game at the bottom of the inning by scoring three runs of its own. DeRyke doubled, driving in Huseman and Hermann to get things started before scoring herself on a wild pitch to trim the deficit to one at 5-3.
An inning later, the Pride inched closer to Graceland after Herrmann doubled, scoring Bates to bring the game within one. Clarke was unable to produce more themselves, ultimately falling 5-4.
The Yellowjackets had 10 hits in the second game, with Clarke registering seven. Individually, Herrmann led the team going 2-for-4 with an RBI. DeRyke collected two RBIs while going 1-for-2 at the plate. In the circle, Tyler pitched all seven innings and recorded six strikeouts.
Up next, the Pride will hit the road right away for a doubleheader with Peru State tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. with the second game slotted for a 3 p.m. start.