Hubbard Delivers Walk-off Home Run to Give Softball Split with BCU

Doane Softball took on Briar Cliff in a Saturday showdown in Crete. The Chargers took game one, 4-2, but the Tigers came back with a walk-off win in game two, 7-6.

The opener was a low scoring affair with all but one run scored in the final three innings. Briar Cliff plated a run in the top of the first inning on a two-out triple. The game remained locked at 1-0 until the fifth inning.

The Chargers plated a run in the fifth inning on a two-out error by the Tigers. In the sixth inning, BCU pushed their lead to 3-0 on a sacrifice fly.

Doane picked up two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull within a run, 3-2. Shelby Robinson delivered an RBI-single to plate Grace Dowding. She came around to score on an RBI-single by Megan Elliott. The Chargers added a run in the seventh inning on an error.

Camry Moore pitched for Doane and threw 7.0 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits while striking out six.

Doane finished with six hits in the game from six different players.

The Tigers started the scoring in game two with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Dowding led off the inning with a triple and scored on a passed ball.

Briar Cliff took the lead in the third inning with a two-out rally. Following a walk, the Chargers had three straight hits and a Tiger error to plate three runs to take a 3-1 lead.

The final three innings once again provided fireworks. Doane tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning as Moore delivered an RBI-double and Anna Prauner picked up an RBI-single.

The Chargers went back in front in the top of the sixth with two runs on a two-out single. Doane tied the game once again in the bottom of the frame. Jadyn Hunt and Moore hit back-to-back triples to make the score, 5-5.

In the seventh inning, Briar Cliff regained the lead on an infield single to take a 6-5 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Prauner led off with a single. Payton Cooley came in as a pinch runner and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Robinson. Alexis Hubbard came to the plate as a pinch hitter. She fell behind in the count but on the fourth pitch she saw, Hubbard launched the ball into the trees behind the left field wall for a two-run, walk-off home run. The hit resulted in her first collegiate hit, first home run, first run scored, and first RBI, to win the game.

The walk-off victory was the first for Doane since April 8, 2022, - a year to the day - when Hunt hit a walk-off home run against Northwestern.

Emily Haines started for Doane and went 2.2 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks. Faith Molina threw 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two. Moore picked up the win, throwing 1.0 inning and allowing one hit and one walk.

Doane finished the game with 11 hits, three from Moore as she went 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Her first hit of the game was the 200th of her collegiate career. Hunt and Prauner added two hits apiece.

The Tigers will be on the road for the next six games, starting with a rescheduled doubleheader on April 11. Doane will travel to Sioux City, Iowa, to take on Morningside at 3:00 PM.