COLUMBIA, Ky. - The Panthers took on No. 2 Lindsey Wilson College Friday evening in a double header with the Blue Raiders. DU had to fight to extra innings in both games to prevail with a pair of 3-2 wins over LWC.
Junior pitcher
Emily Maves led the Panthers Friday evening as the first game of the double header saw the two teams battle to a 3-2 final in 11 innings. Maves set a new DU single-game record with 21 strikeouts in her complete game effort as she allowed two runs on six hits in 11 innings pitched.
The Panthers took over the lead in the top of the fifth inning as
Nicole Vitale hit her first home run of the season to center field. The Blue Raiders would take the lead over in the bottom of the sixth as a double to right center scored a pair and DU trailed 2-1. The Panthers would respond in their next at bat as
Beth Stroup hit a pinch hit home run to center field to tie the game at 2-2.
DU would remained tied with the Blue Raiders at this 2-2 deadlock into the 11
th inning. The DU offense would come through as Vitale hit a clutch single to right field that scored
Sam Merren and gave the Panthers the 3-2 lead. Maves (8-2) shut the Blue Raiders down in the bottom of the inning with a pair of strike outs and DU took a big win from LWC.
The two teams would see themselves in a similar pitcher's duel in game two of the double header as they needed extra innings again to decide a winner. Freshman pitcher
Mallory Teunissen tossed the complete game from the circle for DU with a complete game and five strikeouts. She would hold the Blue Raiders in check as the two teams remained scoreless through seven innings.
DU would break the ice in the top of the eighth with two runs.
Carli SanMillan sacrificed
Sarah Schneidenbach to third base to start the inning.
Alyssa Eastman then came to the plate and knocked her sixth home run of the season that scored Schneidenbach and the Panthers led 2-0.
The Blue Raiders would force another inning of action as an RBI triple and a Panther throwing error gave LWC two runs, and the game was knotted up again, 2-2, after eight innings. DU would secure its win in the ninth as
Haley Obetts hit the go ahead RBI single that scored
Sarah Wallick as DU took over the 3-2 lead. Teunissen held LWC scoreless in the bottom of the inning as she recorded a strikeout and forced a pop out to second base to keep the game-tying run at third base, and DU earned the sweep.