Pride earn road split against Graceland University

LAMONI, Iowa – The Clarke University softball team earned a doubleheader split Friday evening by winning the first matchup 8-0 in six innings and losing in the back-end 5-4.

In game one, Malarie Huseman went six innings of one hit ball with seven strikeouts to pickup her sixth win on the season. Tonight's win marks her eighth complete game in 10 starts and improves her ERA to 3.68.

The Pride provided Huseman run support in the way of eight runs on 13 hits led by catcher Abby Archer's 3-3 game which included driving home runs in her first two at bats followed up with a solo shot in the sixth inning. Elizabeth Leverton and Kaylie Holtam each had a pair of hits and brought in two runners each. Hitting her second career home run was junior Leah Gray who hit a solo shot with one out in the fourth inning.

Getting the start for the Yellow Jackets was Makensey Burghart who went three innings giving up six earned runs and striking out two. Samantha Shaw took over and was the pitcher of record picking up her third loss after going two and a third innings giving up a pair of runs. Bre Small pitched the final two outs making her eleventh appearance of the season.

Game two was scoreless until the third inning when Clarke got on the board first when speedster Lily King reached on an error and stole second base. She was brought into score on a Leverton single to center for her third RBI of the day. Graceland would get that run back in their half of the third when a wild pitch scored Samantha Bradshaw who singled earlier in the inning.

Earning a lead in the sixth inning, the Pride scored on a Holtam groundout scoring Leverton who reached on a bunt single earlier. Unfortunately, the lead wouldn't last long as Bradshaw continued her strong game with a two-run home run and later in the inning Taylor Beane doubled to right to score Makenna Goldizen to take a 5-2 lead.

Rallying in the seventh, the Pride scored twice on three hits, but it wouldn't be enough as Allison Rebling would go all seven innings picking up her eighth win, while striking out 12 batters.

Calli Beck took the ball in game two where she went five and a third innings giving up four runs while striking out one batter. Huseman would pitch the second game also to get the final two outs.

The Pride will come home tomorrow to play a doubleheader against Grand View University starting at 1 pm CST.