The Grand Rapids Community College softball team had two doubleheaders spanning from Saturday, April 13 until Sunday, April 14, where the Raiders lost all four games against Muskegon Community College.
Game One
In the first game, the Raiders jumped out to a fast start as sophomore third baseman Brynn McArthur hit a double to center field which allowed freshman outfielder Amara Kline to score, giving the Raiders a 1-0 lead.
However, the Jayhawks responded in the bottom of the first inning with a home run which put MCC up 2-1 heading into the second inning.
From there, GRCC struggled to put runs on the board while MCC had no issues hitting off the Raiders pitchers. The Jayhawks scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning due to a stolen base and a double while adding another run in the bottom of the third inning.
Heading into the sixth inning, GRCC faced a 6-1 deficit, but that did not stop them from making a short run. Freshman outfielder Emily Obenauf hit a single into right field which scored McArthur. Sophomore second baseman Alyssa Wierenga hit a double to right center which scored sophomore catcher Samara Kolehouse and Obenauf.
The Raiders run stopped there as the Jayhawks took the first game 8-4. Freshman pitcher Macy Springer pitched six innings, allowing 11 hits, seven earned runs and striking out five batters.
Game Two
The second game of the day saw the Raiders’ defensive woes continue as they gave up 17 runs, which is the highest since giving up 18 runs against Oakland Community College during spring training. The game started slow as neither team scored a run in the first inning.
However, the Raiders were on a tear in the top of the second inning as sophomore first baseman Britney Cisler hit a single past the MCC shortstop which resulted in Kolehouse scoring GRCC’s first run. Kline followed that up with a single to left field which allowed Cisler to score.
The Raiders’ run ended there as the Jayhawks earned 17 runs in the next three innings which resulted in the game ending after the top of the fifth inning. GRCC was defeated 17-2.
Sophomore pitcher Macy Huver pitched three innings, allowing 14 hits, and 11 earned runs, while striking out three batters. Freshman pitcher Sophie North finished the game as she pitched one inning, giving up four hits, five earned runs and striking out one batter.
Game Three
GRCC headed into Sunday’s doubleheader focused on improving their defense. That was evident in their first game as the Raiders did not allow a run until the top of the third inning.
The problem for the Raiders was their hitting, as GRCC combined for only five hits in the seven-inning game. Their only run came when McArthur doubled to left field which scored Obenauf. However, the Raiders’ woes at the plate left them in a hole as Jayhawks scored six runs resulting in a 6-1 loss for GRCC.
Kline started the game for the Raiders as she pitched three innings, allowed five hits, four earned runs, and two strikeouts. Huver came in to relieve the Raiders as she pitched four innings, allowing seven hits, two earned runs, and struck out three batters.
Game Four
In the final game of the series, the Raiders had their best game at the plate as they scored seven runs. The game went into extra innings but an eight-run inning in the top of the ninth proved to be too much for GRCC.
The Raiders got off to a poor start as they allowed six runs in the first two innings of the game. From there, the Raiders’ defense did not allow another run until the seventh inning.
In the bottom of the third, Springer singled to left field which allowed Obenauf to score. Then in the bottom of the fifth inning, Cisler hit a single past third base which scored McArthur. The next inning saw the Raiders score another run, as freshman catcher Chole Meyers scored off of a dropped fly-ball hit by McArthur.
Heading into the seventh inning, the Raiders trailed 6-3 and the lead was increased after the Jayhawks scored another run due to a single up the middle. This did not rattle the Raiders as they rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring four consecutive runs to tie the game.
Obenauf started it off with a double to left field which allowed sophomore second baseman Madison Lemke and freshman outfielder Joslyn VanderHart to score. Kline continued the run as she hit a single up the middle of the field allowing Wierenga and Obenauf to score.
With the game tied at seven runs, this meant the Raiders would get their first taste of extra innings this season. The eighth inning was extremely intense as both defenses rose to the occasion and did not allow a run. In the ninth inning, the Jayhawks soared ahead of the Raiders as they scored eight runs and essentially put the game out of reach for GRCC.
GRCC did not get a single run in the bottom of the ninth inning resulting in a 15-8 loss.
Springer had a strong performance as she pitched 8.1 innings, allowing 15 hits, 10 earned runs, and striking out seven batters. North pitched 0.2 innings, allowing five hits, five earned runs, and one walk.
With the Raiders losing all four games to the No.1 ranked team in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association (MCCAA), they moved to 10-15 on the season and 6-6 in conference play. GRCC looks to bounce back as they face the Aquinas JV team on Tuesday, April 16, in a doubleheader at Belknap Park starting at 3 p.m.
