Ninth Ranked Earlham Takes Two From ACGC Softball

The ACGC softball team continues to be competitive against good conference opponents, but was unable to get over the hump last Thursday night as it dropped a doubleheader at ninth ranked Earlham, 4-2 and 4-3. The double loss leaves the Chargers with a conference mark of 1-4 and an overall mark of 2-5, while Earlham sits atop the WCAC with a 6-0 mark and is 7-3 overall.

With the Cardinals designated as the visitor in game one, they opened the game with a two run at bat. The Chargers came back with a single run in its first at bat when they came up with three hits for the inning and EmmaKay McClain scored the first ACGC run.

After Earlham added a run in its second at bat to lead 3-1, ACGC picked up its second score in the third inning when Sophie Dorsey singled with one out, stole second and came around to score on a Cardinal error. The Chargers had only two base runners after that and Earlham added a run in the fourth inning to make the final score of 4-2.

Dorsey and McClain led the Charger hitting with two hits each, while Jorja Hoover had the only extra base hit--a double in the first inning. Tori Fuller added a single in the fourth.

Emerson Van Meter started the game in the circle for the Chargers and pitched the the first, fifth, sixth innings and part of the seventh. McClain threw the second, third, and fourth innings, and then finished the seventh. The duo surrendered fourteen hits to the Cardinals, while walking one and striking out two.

Game two found the Chargers taking a 2-0 lead in their first at bat when Dorsey walked, McClain got on by error, and Mady Kelsey's sacrifice bunt scored Dorsey. McClain then stole home to score the second Charger run.

After Earlham scored a single run in its first at bat, the Chargers added a run in the third inning when Dorsey singled and McClain's double drove Dorsey home to give the Chargers a 3-1 lead. Once again the Cardinals came from behind to score single runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings to pull out a 4-3 win.

ACGC was limited to three hits in the second game, with Mady Kelsey getting a single in the sixth inning to add to the hits by Dorsey and McClain in the third inning. The Chargers managed only one base runner over the last four innings.

McClain and Van Meter each threw three innings, with EmmaKay starting the game and Emerson finishing. McClain gave up four hits and two runs, while Van Meter was tagged for five hits and two runs.

ACGC coach Eric Van Meter saw some bright sports despite the losses. "The girls are fighting and working hard. Our defense was strong last night. We just needed a couple of timely hits."

Game one score by inning:

Earlham 210 100 0--4 14 4

ACGC 101 000 0--2 6 1

ACGC hitting: (AB-R-H-RBI) Dorsey (3-1-1-0) McClain (3-1-2-0) Kelsey (3-0-0-0) Hoover (3-0-1-0)

Fuller (3-0-0-0) O.VanMeter (2-0-0-0) Richter (2-0-0-0) Young (2-0-0-0) E.Van Meter (1-0-0-0) Carney (1-0-0-0)

ACGC pitching: (IP-H-R-ER-SO-BB) E.Van Meter (3-7-2-2-0-0) McClain (3-7-2-2-2-0)

Game two score by inning:

ACGC 201 000 0--3 3 0

Earlham 101 110 X--4 9 1

ACGC hitting: Dorsey (2-2-1-0) McClain (3-1-1-1) Kelsey (3-0-1-1) Hoover (3-0-0-0) Fuller (3-0-0-0) O.VanMeter (3-0-0-0) Richter (3-0-0-0) Young (3-0-0-0) Carney (1-0-0-0) E.VanMeter (1-0-0-0)

ACGC pitching: McClain (3-4-3-3-1-1) E.VanMeter (3-5-3-3-2-0)