MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- UPIKE softball went south to Myrtle Beach for spring break and came back with some new records to show for it.
Game 1
The first record of the week was broken in UPIKE's first game in South Carolina, a 2-0 win over Lincoln College.
Pitcher Megan Claypoole set the record for most strikeouts in a single-game in available recorded UPIKE history (since 2004) with 16. Besides her 16 punchouts, Claypoole only gave up one hit in the complete game shutout, her third of the year.
UPIKE scored once in the fourth and again in the seventh. The first run was scored by MacKenzie Pawlak, who reached on a fielder's choice and later scored on a single from Haley Osborne. Osborne was the only batter to get multiple hits in the game. Pawlak also scored the second run in the seventh on Osborne's second hit of the game.
Game 2
The second game of the day was UPIKE's only loss on the week, a 2-1 loss to Cincinnati Christian.
It was a pitchers' duel in its purest form between UPIKE's Hannah Skaggs and Cincinnati Christian's Mackenzie Meyer.
Meyer ended up getting the best of the Bears, leading CCU to a 2-1 win. She gave up only two hits in the game, the second an RBI single for Kelsey White to score UPIKE's only run in the bottom of the sixth. MacKenzie Pawlak had the only other hit for the Bears.
Hannah Skaggs gave up more hits (seven), but also struck out considerably more batters with eight strikeouts. The only time Skaggs couldn't evade trouble was when the Eagles strung together three hits that barely broke into the outfield to score their two runs in the top of the fourth.
Game 3
UPIKE was able to get immediate revenge the next day, reversing the prior afternoon's decision with a 2-1 win over CCU.
Claypoole had her second straight stellar game in the circle, this one a six-hit complete game. She struck out three batters while only walking one.
Jordan Gentry got the Bears on the board early with a lead-off single and after a walk she stole third to set up an RBI groundout by Kelsey White.
Cincinnati Christian tied the game in the fourth when the Eagles combined a single and double off Claypoole.
White also scored the game-winning run in the sixth. She started the inning with a leadoff single and advanced to second on an error. Claypoole then helped herself with a double to right-center to score White.
Claypoole then retired the side in order in the seventh to close out the game and earn her second win of the week.
Game 4
The week's second broken record of the week came in Wednesday's second game, a 24-0 run-rule win over Silver Lake College.
While the 24 total runs scored is not a record, how they scored them was the significant factor. UPIKE scored an incredible 17 times in the first inning, the most in a single inning in UPIKE available recorded history.
The Bears sent 22 batters to the plate in the first, and at one point in the inning, scored a run for nine consecutive plate appearances.
Twelve of the 13 UPIKE batters to see a plate appearance scored in the game and eight batters recorded multiple hits. Seven Bears recorded multiple RBIs, led by Jordan Gentry, Kelsey White, Haley Osborne, and Mercedes Boggs all with three.
Hannah Skaggs, Brooke Layne, and Caitlynn Estevez combined to throw a one-hit shutout of the Lakers complete with six strikeouts.
Game 5
While it wasn't a record-breaking performance, Megan Claypoole tied her own new record three days later with her second 16-strikeout outing in UPIKE's 4-0 win over Mount Aloysius College.
Claypoole recorded her fourth complete game shutout of the year, this one a three-hitter with two walks.
Haley Osborne and Emme Barker each recorded multiple hits with an RBI in the game.
UPIKE got on the board in the second when Claypoole scored from third on a double play. The next inning, Osborne got her RBI single to score Jordan Gentry.
The Bears struck twice in the sixth. The first run came on Barker's RBI single then after a pair of errors, scored on Elizabeth Hickey's sacrifice bunt.
Game 6
The final game of the week was one of UPIKE's most well-rounded efforts this season, a 8-0 run-rule win over NCAA Division III Fitchburg State.
Hannah Skaggs picked up her second win of the week with a double-digit strikeout, complete game effort of her own. The junior gave up three hits while striking out ten and only walking one batter.
While the Bears didn't smash the seams off the ball, they made the most of every opportunity, only leaving five runners on base. Kelsey White had her best game of the weekend against the Falcons, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a triple. Elizabeth Hickey joined her with two RBIs of her own.
UP NEXT
After the long week, UPIKE will have a competition-free week before facing Alice Lloyd in a make-up game on Sunday, March 24th.
-UPIKE-
