Softball Takes Game One Behind Small Ball Effort

CRETE, Neb. - Doane edged Mount Marty 3-2 in game one of Tuesday's GPAC softball doubleheader at the Doane Ballfield Complex, using timely offense and a complete-game effort from Trinity Robinson to secure the win.

Mount Marty struck first in the opening inning, taking advantage of a Doane error before Makayla Hudson delivered an RBI double down the left field line for a 1-0 lead. The Tigers answered immediately in the bottom half. Jeryn Allen opened the frame with a single, stole second and moved to third on a groundout before Evelyn Iniguez brought her home with an RBI groundout to tie the game at 1-1.

The Lancers moved back in front in the second, scoring on a catcher's throwing error after loading the bases, but Doane responded again in the third. Hannah Pack singled to start the inning, stole second and advanced to third on a flyout before Milannie Gonzalez dropped down a sacrifice bunt that brought Pack home to even the score at 2-2.

Doane grabbed the lead for good in the fifth. Allen singled once more to start the inning and Gonzalez followed with a base hit. After Gonzalez moved to second, Kayla Meyer came through with a two-out RBI single down the left field line to score Gonzalez and put the Tigers in front 3-2.

Robinson made that lead stand up the rest of the way. The Doane right-hander tossed a complete game, allowing two runs, neither earned, on eight hits while striking out two and walking one. She worked out of several jams, including stranding a runner at third in the sixth and closing the door in the seventh after Mount Marty advanced the tying run into scoring position.

Allen paced the Tigers offensively with two hits and a run scored, while Gonzalez had a hit and two RBIs. Meyer finished 1-for-1 with a walk, hit by pitch and the game-winning RBI. Pack also scored once and swiped a base, while Ciara Hudson and Jacqueline Ordonez each added a hit.

Mount Marty collected eight hits in the loss, with Megan Toplovich going 2-for-4 and Hudson driving in the Lancers' first-inning run.

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