MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – The Spring Arbor University softball team earned a split in Crossroads League play against Mount Vernon Nazarene University on Tuesday, winning the opener 4-3 before falling 9-6 in eight innings in game two.
 
With the results, the Cougars move to 19-11 overall and 10-6 in conference play.
 
In game one, Emilee Underwood came through both at the plate and in the circle to lead Spring Arbor to the win. After two scoreless innings, Underwood delivered an RBI hit in the third to give SAU a 1-0 lead.
 
The Cougars added to their advantage in the fifth, capitalizing on an error to score three runs and take a 4-1 lead. Mount Vernon Nazarene responded with a run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to close within one.
 
The home team threatened in the seventh, loading the bases with no outs, but Underwood worked out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts and a game-ending pop up to secure the victory.
 
Nicole Barbeau led the offense, going 3-for-3 with a run scored, while Grace Luby added two hits. Underwood earned the win to improve to 10-4, allowing two earned runs over seven innings.
 
Game two featured a back-and-forth battle that extended into extra innings. Mount Vernon Nazarene led 2-1 after the first, but Spring Arbor responded with a five-run second inning, highlighted by RBI hits from Summer Ambler and Luby.
 
Mount Vernon Nazarene answered with three runs in the third and another in the fourth to even the score at 6-6. The game remained tied through seven innings before the home team secured a 9-6 walk-off victory with a three-run home run in the eighth.
 
Amber recorded two hits and scored twice, while Payton Grange added two hits. Barbeau extended her hitting streak to 16 games with a hit in the nightcap.
 
Spring Arbor returns to action on Thursday, April 2, traveling to face Taylor University before hosting Indiana Wesleyan University on Friday, April 3.