Liberty, Mo. – The Missouri S&T softball team concluded the weekend's action on a disappointing note as the Lady Miners were swept by William Jewell, 4-2 and 12-2 in five innings, this Saturday (March 31) in a Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) doubleheader at WJC's Cardinal Field.
 
S&T's record dips to 18-16 overall and 8-6 in the GLVC while the two wins improves William Jewell's record to 19-13 overall and 6-6 in the conference.
 
The Lady Miners led early in game one, but couldn't hold onto having the edge as WJC scored twice in the second and third innings to take the victory.
 
A combined 11 William Jewell runs in the opening three innings, including five apiece in the first and third frames, proved too much for S&T to overcome as the Cardinals run-ruled the Lady Miners.     
    
Game 1 – William Jewell 4, Missouri S&T 2
 
S&T went up 1-0 in the bottom of the opening inning as senior third baseman Monica Weiss (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette)' RBI double scored junior outfielder Courtney Jackson (Parkville, Mo./Park Hill South), who leadoff the game by reaching base on an error. However, the Lady Miners' lead was short-lived as WJC tallied twice in the second inning on four hits, including three consecutive singles to leadoff the frame, and in turn claimed a 2-1 advantage.
 
A one-out solo home run by freshman catcher Ashley Davis (Erie, Ill./Erie), which was her second of this season, to left centerfield in the last half of the second inning knotted the game at 2-2 all.  But the tie didn't last for long as William Jewell snapped the deadlock with a pair of third inning runs as catcher Courtney Beatty smacked a two-run home run as the Cardinals went ahead 4-2.
 
The Lady Miners mounted a scoring threat in the bottom of the fifth on two-out consecutive singles from junior first baseman Gretchen Egly (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield Central), Monica Weiss (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette), and junior outfielder Carley Hamann (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way North) to load the bases, but the opportunity ended when sophomore outfielder Hannah Smith (Oconomowoc, Wis./Catholic Memorial) grounded out to second base for the third out.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, S&T sophomore pitcher Avery English (Carterville, Ill./Carterville) worked out of a jam as the Cardinals put runners on third and second with two outs via singles before the Lady Miners recorded a groundout putout to end the frame.  
 
WJC starting pitcher Anna Biondo retired the S&T side in order for the sixth inning and allowed a two-out single from Gretchen Egly (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield Central) in the seventh before picking up the decision on an infield groundout to end the game.
 
Gretchen Egly (Joliet, Ill./Plainfield Central), Monica Weiss (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette), and Ashley Davis (Erie, Ill./Erie) each compiled a team-high two base hits for S&T, which posted eight hits to WJC's 12 total.  Carley Hamann (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way North) and junior second baseman Hannah Franceschini (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central) accounted for the other two Lady Miner hits in the contest.  William Jewell featured four individuals with two hits apiece.
 
In the pitching circle, Avery English (Carterville, Ill./Carterville) (12-8) was tagged with the loss as she struck out two in throwing a complete game.  For WJC, Anna Biondo (8-6) fanned three and issued one walk in pitching all seven innings.
 
WJC finished the contest with nine runners stranded on the base paths while S&T left seven runners on base.               
          
Game 2 – William Jewell 12, Missouri S&T 2 (Five Innings)
 
A rough start in game two dashed any hopes of S&T getting a doubleheader split as William Jewell opened with five first-inning runs and then duplicated the output in the third to lead 11-2 thru three innings of action.
 
Four first-inning hits off S&T senior pitcher Kati Viets (Sweet Springs, Mo./Sweet Springs), which included a two-out three-run homer by Phoebe Dabbour gave the Cardinals a five-run margin as the Lady Miners played the five innings trying in vain to erase a sizeable deficit.  WJC garnered its sixth run of the game in the second on back-to-back hits with the first going for two bases.
 
The lone bright spot for S&T would come in the bottom of the second as sophomore designated player Olivia Young (Milstadt, Ill./Belleville Township) leadoff with her ninth round tripper of the season beyond the fence in right center and Carley Hamann (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way North) followed with a solo shot down the right field line to post her first four-base hit of the year.   
 
While S&T was unable to score the rest of the way, William Jewell continued to increase its lead as the Cardinals erupted for another five runs in the third inning.  WJC's Phoebe Dabbour went yard again and for the fourth time this spring, belting a two-run homer as the Cardinals led 8-2.  A pair of walks to go with back-to-back singles resulted in three additional runs.
 
The Lady Miners, who were outhit 13-4 for the game, gave up a fifth-inning run to conclude the scoring as WJC generated a double proceeded by a RBI single.
 
For S&T, Kati Viets (Sweet Springs, Mo./Sweet Springs) (6-6) pitchd all five innings and walked three while tallying two stikeouts.  Madelynne Greenstreet chalked up six strikeouts and walked three in earning the complete-game victory.
 
The Lady Miners' four hits in the game were from Olivia Young (Milstadt, Ill./Belleville Township), Carley Hamann (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln Way North), Monica Weiss (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette), and Hannah Franceschini (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central).
         
Up Next
S&T is now idle until Sunday, April 8, when the Lady Miners battle the Drury Panthers at DU's Thompson Field in Springfield, Mo.  Game one of the GLVC doubleheader begins at 12 p.m. (CT) proceeded by the second game at 2 p.m. (CT).  The Lady Miners then return to the S&T Softball Field Tuesday, April 10, taking on the Rogers State Hillcats in non-conference play.  A 1 p.m. (CT) start is scheduled for the opener with the nightcap to begin at 3 p.m. (CT).