SIOUX CITY, Iowa (uj.edu) — The University of Jamestown softball team was held to a pair of runs on five hits as Briar Cliff University posted a sweep Friday afternoon, 3-1 and 9-1 in five innings.
Jamestown (18-8, 2-2 Great Plains Athletic Conference) faces College of Saint Mary (Neb.) in Omaha at 1:00 p.m. Saturday. Briar Cliff improves to 7-13 and 2-2 in the GPAC.
Game 1: Chargers 3, Jimmies 1
Morgan Geiszler (SO/Horace, ND)’s two-run triple scored Mikayla Frost (JR/Melba, ID) in the top of the first to give UJ a 1-0 lead in Friday’s first game. That would be the Jimmies’ only hit until Allie McCain (SR/Duvall, WA) singled with one out in the sixth.
Madison Deane’s bases-clearing double gave Briar Cliff a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth, and Chargers pitcher Alayna Allen was able to hold Jamestown scoreless in the seventh to complete the win.
Kat Miska (SO/Pequot Lakes, MN) (8-3) struck out nine in six innings and gave up three runs on five hits while walking five. It was her seventh complete game of the season.
Game 2: Chargers 9, Jimmies 1 (5 innings)
As in game one Jamestown scored first, with Courtney Espinoza (JR/Avondale, Ariz.) doubling home Caitlyn Courtney (JR/Caldwell, TX) in the top of the third to make it 1-0.
Briar Cliff answered with the tying run in the bottom of the third, then broke the game open in the fourth with five runs to take a 6-1 lead. The Chargers ended the game in the fifth, scoring three times to end the game via run rule.
Santina Zito (FR/Boise, Idaho) joined Courtney and Espinoza in the hit column for Jamestown. Miriah Yoder (SR/Devils Lake, ND) reached twice via base on balls.
Katie Merchant (FR/South Haven, Minn.) (8-4) took the loss despite allowing just one hit in three innings. She was charged with four runs, three earned, while walking six and striking out two.
