SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Spring Arbor University head softball coach Deb Thompson picked up a milestone victory Saturday, earning her 800th career win as the Cougars defeated Huntington University 5-1 in game two of their home opening doubleheader.
Thompson currently ranks fifth among active NAIA coaches in career wins.
Spring Arbor scored four runs in the first inning, highlighted by a three-run home run by senior Sydney Taylor, and that was more than enough run support for junior pitcher Melody Donovan, who turned in a complete game effort allowing just one run.
Huntington defeated SAU 7-1 in game one of the twin bill.
THE BASICS
SCORES: Spring Arbor 1, Huntington 7
Spring Arbor 5, Huntington 1
LOCATION: Cougar Softball Field | Spring Arbor, Mich.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 10-8 (3-3 CL), Huntington 5-6 (1-1 CL)
GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS
- Spring Arbor and Huntington were tied 1-1 through three innings before the Foresters began to pull away.
- HU scored one run in the fourth and one in the fifth – both with two outs. Then, the visitors broke the game open with a two-run homer in the sixth inning.
- Hope Longenbarger collected all three of SAU's hits while Chloe Gignac scored the team's lone run.
- Lauren Wirgau pitched all seven innings. The junior surrendered seven runs on 11 hits and struck out two batters.
GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS
- After a quiet offensive performance in game one, Spring Arbor got off to a fast start in game. The Cougars got three straight hits to start the first inning, including an RBI double by Longenbarger. The very next batter, Taylor, cleared the bases with a three-run bomb to centerfield.
- Huntington would get a run back in the third inning on a solo home run by Denaia Rice, but Donovan would shutout the Foresters the rest of the way.
- Spring Arbor's 1-4 batters combined to go 7-for-11 at the plate with all four scoring. Gignac, Longenbarger and Taylor recorded two hits apiece.
- Donovan picked up the win after tossing seven strong innings, scattering seven hits and striking out one batter.
UP NEXT
Spring Arbor hosts Grace College (4-13, 0-5 CL) on Tuesday, Mar. 26 starting at 3 p.m.
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