Early Pioneer runs spell doom for Pride in Saturday doubleheader

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Hoping to carry the momentum of a four-game winning streak into another conference four-game weekend, the Clarke University softball team couldn't come back from early deficits in 4-0 and 9-1 losses to MidAmerica Nazarene University on Saturday afternoon.

The Pioneers jumped out to 3-0 leads in both games, with a three-run top of the first in the opener then a run in each of the first three innings of the finale to also prevent the Pride from comeback efforts as CU would only score a single run in the second game of the day on an Emma Hodnet third inning RBI single.

MNU's pitching tandem of game one starter Mykala Johnico and game two starter Grace Berlage combined to record every out of their respective games as Johnico finished off her shutout over seven innings eight strikeouts while Berlage finished the five-inning run rule victory with four strikeouts.

Clarke's game one starter, Malarie Huseman, was able to shake off a three-run first inning to keep the Pride within four runs after the third but CU's offense couldn't get anything going against Johnico.

Hodnet finished with three total hits on the day as both Lily King and Kaylie Holtam also had three hit days with King scoring the run for Clarke in the day's finale.

Pride softball will host a makeup doubleheader against Mount Mercy University that was originally scheduled for last Wednesday but moved due to weather as the Sunday doubleheader at Veterans Memorial Park is slated to begin at 1:00 p.m. CT.