Pride offense stalls in series-opening doubleheader at Stephens

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Getting back to action after a having last week off, the Clarke University softball team dropped both games of their Sunday doubleheader on the road against Stephens College by 5-2 and 8-0 finals.

The Pride were only able to manage five hits in 12 total innings with the day's finale being shortened due to hitting the eight-run rule in the bottom of the fifth as CU outhit the Stars 3-2 in the opener but walks and errors helped Stephens score four runs in the second inning.

That four-run second was the only major issues that Clarke starter Malarie Huseman ran into as she pitched a complete game to allow only two hits and struck out eight but walked four allowing three of her five runs given up to be earned.

Huseman also cracked one of the Pride's three hits as the other two came from Abby Archer, who made her 2024 debut with a 2-for-3 performance, driving in one of the two Clarke runs, getting the start behind the plate for CU.

In game two, the Stars scored at least a run in every inning with their two-run first inning and three-run fourth were the big blows against Clarke pitchers Meredith Gatto and Payge Pyszka, allowing Stephens to win in five.

The Pride and Stars will wrap up their four-game series on Monday with the first game starting at 12:00 p.m. CT in Columbia.