Quincy, Ill. – For the second consecutive time, the Missouri S&T softball team has swept a Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) opponent as the Lady Miners claimed a pair of road victories, 2-0 and 10-4, over the Quincy Hawks this Sunday (March 25) at the Mart Heinen Softball Complex.

The winning ways for S&T continue as the Lady Miners have presently won four straight and  six of their last seven outings to date while improving to 16-12 overall and 6-2 in the conference.  This past Sunday (March 18), S&T claimed a home league doubleheader from Lewis, winning 5-0 and 4-3 at the S&T Softball Field in Rolla, Mo.

Another stellar four-hit pitching performance from sophomore Avery English (Carterville, Ill./Carterville) helped lead S&T to a shutout victory in the doubleheader opener.  A pair of S&T RBI extra-base hits in the first by sophomore designated player Olivia Young (Milstadt, Ill./Belleville Township) and a fifth-inning solo home run from junior second baseman Hannah Franceschini (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) supplied the Lady Miners with the contest's only two runs. 

In the second game, S&T registered a pair of four-run innings as both sophomore shortstop Abby Klein (Kansas City, MO/Staley) and junior first baseman Gretchen Egly (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield Central) belted grand slam home runs as part of the Lady Miners' 11 total base hits in the nightcap.  Klein, who collected a team-most four hits in as many at bats, racked up five RBIs in the game on a two roundtrippers while Egly garnered four RBIs on a pair of hits.  

The two losses by Quincy drops the Hawks' record this spring to 11-15 overall and 1-7 in the GLVC.       

Game 1 - Missouri S&T 2, Quincy 0

The Lady Miners managed to hold Quincy to seven scoreless half frames as S&T pitcher Avery English (Carterville, Ill./Carterville) (12-5) limited the Hawks to only four hits as the visitors won the opener.

English, who fanned three and didn't issue a walk to single QU batter in earning the complete game decision, capitalized on Missouri S&T's lone run in the top of the first inning.  A one-out double by Abby Klein (Kansas City, MO/Staley) put the Lady Miners into scoring position and S&T's next batter, Olivia Young (Milstadt, Ill./Belleville Township) ripped an offering by Quincy starting pitcher Mac Kenzie Collier to left center field for a RBI double to score Klein and give the Lady Miners a 1-0 lead.         

In the top of fifth inning, S&T added an insurance run as Hannah Franceschini (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) leadoff with a solo shot over the fence to account for the game's two runs.  In the pitching circle, English managed to keep the Quincy batters off balance as she allowed only two hits in the last three innings to earn her second consecutive conference shutout. 

For S&T, Abby Klein (Kansas City, MO/Staley) and Olivia Young (Milstadt, Ill./Belleville Township) both accumulated a team-leading two hits.  Junior outfielder Courtney Jackson (Parkville, Mo./Park Hill South) and Hannah Franceschini (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) accounted for the Lady Miners' remaining two hits with one apiece as both teams stranded three runners apiece on the base paths in the contest.     

Game 2 - Missouri S&T 10, Quincy 4

Missouri S&T produced its second consecutive win over Quincy in the second game as the Lady Miners erupted for four runs in an inning twice to put the game away.

S&T took a short-lived 1-0 first-inning lead on Abby Klein (Kansas City, MO/Staley)'s home run before the Hawks countered with two runs in the bottom half of the frame as Kay Bettendorf cleared the bases with a two-run homer.  But, the Lady Miners bounced right back in the top of the second with a four-run output as Abby Klein (Kansas City, MO/Staley) belted her second roundtripper of the game and of this season with a grand slam to give S&T a 5-2 advantage.  A leadoff Monica Weiss (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette) single coupled by walks to sophomore outfielder Hannah Smith (Oconomowoc, Wis./Catholic Memorial) and Courtney Jackson (Parkville, Mo./Park Hill South) loaded the bases to set up Klein's home run. 

Quincy managed to get a run back in the bottom of the third with a run-scoring double by Remi Ferguson to draw within 5-3 after the initial three frames.  S&T picked up a run in the next inning as Hannah Smith (Oconomowoc, Wis./Catholic Memorial) reached base on a single and eventually crossed home plate on a wild pitch as the Lady Miners would maintain a 6-3 margin through five innings of play.

In the top of the sixth inning, S&T put some distance between themselves and Quincy with a four-run scoring output on as many hits.  The difference-making blow occurring on a two-out four-run home run off the bat of Gretchen Egly (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield Central), which represented her fifth homer of this season.  The Hawks registered the game's final score in the bottom half of the seventh when Katelyn Gratza started off with a solo home run followed by a pair of singles before S&T starting hurler Kati Viets (Sweet Springs, Mo./Sweet Springs) (4-5) ended the game with a strikeout.

The Lady Miners finished the nightcap with 11 total hits, led by Abby Klein (Kansas City, MO/Staley)'s four hits to go along with five RBIs and three runs scored.  Gretchen Ely, who had four RBIs, and Hannah Smith (Oconomowoc, Wis./Catholic Memorial) also produced multiple hits with two apiece.  Kati Viets (Sweet Springs, Mo./Sweet Springs) went the distance for S&T and allowed nine hits while striking out three to claim the victory.  Quincy used four pitchers in the game with starter Emily Griskell absorbing the loss.

Up Next

S&T visits the Truman State Bulldogs this Monday (March 26) for a pair of GLVC games  at the Bulldog Softball Park in Kirksville, Mo.  The doubleheader, which was postponed from its originally scheduled March 24 date due to inclement weather and cold temperatures, will get underway at 12 p.m. (CT) with game one and the second game to begin at 2 p.m. (CT).