April 25, 2008

PARKVILLE, MO.--The Park University Pirates swept Missouri Valley College on Thursday afternoon thanks to a Megan Goings homerun and a Jamie Garman no hitter. Park edged Missouri Valley in game one 6-5, pulling ahead by one run in the eighth inning and then crushed the Vikings in game two of the double-header in five innings, 11-0.

The wins over Missouri Valley improve Park's overall record to 18-19 and will hope to be a good warm-up before Saturday's important double-header with College of St. Mary. Park hosts the Flames out at Park Softball Field on Saturday, April 26 at 3:00 p.m. for the last two regular games of the season. College of St. Mary stands to spoil Park's chance at hosting the MCAC Tournament and a first place finish in the conference regular season.

The Pirates jumped ahead 3-0 on five hits in the second inning, but the Vikings would earn two of those runs back on a Kim Fuller two-run homer. Fuller would come up big again in the fifth, with her second two-run homer of the day, giving the Vikings a 4-3 lead.

Goings led off the sixth inning with a single, landing Nicole Wilson on first to pinch run. A Viking wild pitch and Lisa Luettinger sacrifice bunt would put Wilson on third. Jordan Van Houtan would pinch hit for the Pirates and stepped up to the plate in a big, sending a hit out to right field to score Wilson and tie the game at 4-4.

For the top of the eighth inning, the Vikings placed Lindsey Stapp on second and were able to get her home on a Heather Sliger single, taking a 5-4 lead.

The Pirates would get their shot in the bottom of the eighth, placing Alicia Wedel on second base and bringing up Goings for the leadoff. Goings would singe to right field to move Wedel to third. Luettinger sent a ball sailing to right field to score Wedel for the 5-5 tie and move Goings to second. Going's would score and get the win on a Viking error off of a Rachel Hartford hit.

Park took control of game two led by Garman on defense and the sticks on offense. The Pirates scored 11 runs off of 13 hits, highlighted by a Goings home run. The Pirates took a 4-0 lead in the first inning with Jill Prather, Garman, Wedel and Goings all scoring.

The Pirates took a 10-0 lead at the conclusion of the third and scored a single run in the fourth to run rule Missouri Valley.