Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

PEPPER PIKE, Ohio – The Mercyhurst University softball team picked up their second sweep of the season against Ursuline College on Monday afternoon.  The Lakers beat Ursuline 7-1 in game one after a four-run start.  Junior Kayleigh Milliman pushed across the go-ahead run in the eighth inning in game two, 4-1 to complete the sweep.
 
The Lakers improved to 12-18 overall in the season.  Ursuline fell to 6-14.
 
In game one, the Lakers started with hot bats, tallying five hits to lead off with four runs scored.  Freshman Allison Yule continued her hitting streak after having at least one hit in the last 16 games.  Junior Courtney Smith placed the ball to right field for a single and advanced Yule to third.  Yule tallied the first run on a wild pitch.
 
Sophomore Shaina Bunker tallied her seventh double of the season, driving in C. Smith for the game-winning run.  Senior Julie Harmon contributed after getting her fifth hit and second RBI of the season. 
 
With the help of the Laker defense, pitcher Megan Hopton picked up her seventh win of the season.  Hopton, 7-9, pitched another stellar performance, collecting her season-high 7 strikeouts, allowing only three hits and one walk in the victory. 
 
Mercyhurst tallied a single run in the second, fourth, and seventh to snap their losing streak.  Courtney Smith went 3-for-3 in game one, pushing one run across the dish and scoring two for the Lakers.
 
In game two, the Lakers combined for season-high 24 putouts in the defense to collect the extra inning win.  Sophomore Annie Truelove collected the win, pitching in all 8 innings and allowed only four hits for one run and three walks.
 
Mercyhurst was once again the first to score from a team effort by Yule and Courtney Smith.  Allison Yule shot the ball to right field to collect her second hit of the evening.  Two batters later, Smith tallied her third hit of the day to push Yule across the dish for a 1-0 lead. 
 
Ursuline did not score the equalizer until the fifth inning when Truelove gave up a hit then walk with two outs.  The Arrow's Natalie Huggins collected her second hit of the day and only RBI as Sam Roberts raced home.
 
Through tuff defense on both sides, the game was forced into extra inning but did not last as Mercyhurst tallied a 3-run inning to take the win.  Courtney Smith once again singled to center field and was advanced by a sacrifice bunt.  Soon after, junior Megan Smith drew a walk to give two runners on base. 
 
Milliman took advantage of the opportunity early, as she stroked a two-run double to take the 3-1 lead.  Senior Kristen Fyffe followed suit, hitting a double of her own to right field to score Milliman. 
 
The Lakers continue their road series tomorrow April, 9 at Notre Dame College (Ohio).  The double-header is set for a 3:00 p.m. start.