The Stevenson University softball team continued its strong spring campaign, posting a 4-2 record across three recent doubleheaders. The Mustangs (14-3, 3-1 MAC Commonwealth) split non-conference action with Marymount and MAC foe Widener before sweeping Hood College in conference play, highlighted by dominant pitching and timely offense.
Caylee Cliett shared how the team has been able to play so well together and keep the winning rolling. “We have amazing energy in the dugout and it translates on the field. Our cheers and the fact that we all want to be there is the driving force behind our wins I believe.”
March 22 vs. Widener – Split Series in MAC Opener
Game 1 – Widener 9, Stevenson 8
Despite racking up 14 hits, the Mustangs dropped a wild opener to Widener, 9-8, after the Pride launched a walk-off home run in the seventh. Stevenson led 8-5 heading into the bottom of the sixth before the hosts mounted a late comeback.
Down 3-0 after one inning, Stevenson chipped away. Danielle Mills’ groundout scored Ava Stafursky in the second, followed by a sacrifice fly from Maddie Buher to bring in Rebecca Henry. A third-inning surge tied the game as Mykaela Getz’s sac fly and Tessa Boswell’s RBI single plated two more. Mills and Sahara Ward added to the offense in the fifth and sixth innings, with Mills finishing the game with three RBI and two hits. Henry and Boswell each tallied three hits, while Getz added two.
Ky Vaughn took the loss in the circle despite six solid innings of work.
Game 2 – Stevenson 7, Widener 0
In the nightcap, Alexis Kirkessner was nearly untouchable, tossing a complete-game one-hitter with two strikeouts. After three scoreless innings, Stafursky blasted a two-run homer in the fourth to ignite the Mustang offense. Ward’s RBI triple and sacrifice fly by McKenzie Tobler extended the lead in the fifth, while Henry and Mills capped the scoring in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively.
Rebecca Maiorano paced the offense with three hits, and Henry added two as the Mustangs bounced back in dominant fashion.
March 25 vs. Hood – Stevenson Sweeps to Improve to 3-1 in MAC
Game 1 – Stevenson 5, Hood 4
A back-and-forth game ended with a walk-off single from Boswell, who drove in Mya Lamp in the seventh. The Mustangs had rallied in the sixth with RBI singles from Caylee Cliett and Ward to take a 4-3 lead before Hood tied it in the top of the seventh.
Boswell the walk-off hero, was recently named MAC player of the week and her late game heroics just solidified the well deserved honor.
Cliett and Ward each had two hits, and Gurevich (3-0) struck out six in a complete-game effort.
Game 2 – Stevenson 8, Hood 0 (6 innings)
The Mustangs capped the doubleheader with an emphatic shutout behind the arm of Kirkessner, who allowed just two hits in six innings to move to 5-1 on the year.
Stevenson’s offense was firing on all cylinders with 11 hits, including a two-run home run by Boswell in the sixth. Maiorano led with three hits, while Stafursky and Boswell each added two.
March 27 vs. Marymount – Mustangs Split in Non-Conference Clash
Game 1 – Stevenson 5, Marymount 3
The Mustangs jumped out to a 5-0 lead and held off a late Saints push to take the opener. Rebecca Henry singled in the first to score Tobler, followed by a three-run single from Mills. Maiorano reached on an error in the second inning to score Sahara Ward.
Angelica Gurevich remained perfect on the year (4-0), tossing a complete game with three strikeouts while stranding two runners in scoring position in the seventh to seal the win.
Game 2 – Marymount 11, Stevenson 2
Marymount exploded for seven runs in the first four innings and never looked back. Tobler doubled home Mills and Boswell in the fourth for Stevenson’s only runs. Mills and Getz each had two hits in the loss.
Kirkessner took the loss, allowing four runs in three innings. Grace Briggs and Vaughn combined for the final three innings in relief.
Up Next
Caylee Cliett shared what the team mentality is as they will continue to navigate through the conference. “We need to focus on the fact that these are conference games now and we need to always have a plan and understand who we’re playing and what they might throw at us.”
The Mustangs look to carry their momentum into the heart of MAC Commonwealth play. Stevenson returns to action on Saturday, at they travel to face Messiah University. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
