Portland, Ore. | The Knights capped off this weekend in Montana 4-0, as they go on to defeat University of Providence two more times early Saturday 7-3 and 6-5.
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With these two victories putting the Knights at 17-18, coach was overall pleased with the Knights performance and progression this weekend. "We made some very good adjustments offensively from yesterday, and all the way through the lineup we battled. We had some really good at bats, especially with two outs. We've been on the road a lot the last few weeks and this has been a long trip, but we came with a lot of energy today, and just flat out competed," says head coach
Nathan Ohta. "The girls dug deep and I'm proud of how their effort today."
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The Rundown
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Getting the game one start on Saturday, freshman pitcher Melia Coydon picked up right where she had left off Friday night retiring the Argo hitters in order via a strikeout and two lazy pop flies in the top of the first inning. WPU would threaten in the bottom of the first having three hitters reach. Following a flyout by
Macy Besuyen, a
Sarah Stanfill single and two Argo errors, had the Knights in business, but a fielder's choice and caught stealing brought the inning to an end in a scoreless tie.Â
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The Knights would take the lead in the bottom of the second however after
Emma Foster doubled, advanced to third on a ground out by
Jamie Carlson and then scored on a perfectly executed squeeze by
Tatum Fell.Â
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In the top of the third inning, the Argos were able to manage a run of their own after a knight error and two singles, but Croydon was able to limit the damage and shut the door on the rally with a key strikeout to end the inning.Â
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In the bottom of the third the Knights bats came alive.
Payton Hergert singled and scored on a double to deep center field by
Devinne Amesquita one batter later. After a fly out,
Jamie Carlson hit a two-run shot that cleared the fence in left field, and after three WPU led 4-1.Â
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The fourth inning brought more fireworks, and after Providence managed to get one run back in the top of the inning, the WPU offense again took control of the game.
Macy Besuyen singled and
Sarah Stanfill was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. With two outs in the inning, Amesquita was also hit by pitch.
Emma Foster then ripped a bases loaded double down the left field line scoring Besuyen and Stanfill to give the Knights a 6-2 advantage.Â
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Providence would not go quietly and loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the 5th on three consecutive singles to start the inning. But again, Croydon slammed the door shut with a groundout that allowed one run to score and two strikeouts to end the threat.
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WPU was able to add an insurance run in the 7th when Amesquita singled and pinch runner
Ashton Porter stole second and then scored on a double by
Paityn Willoughby.Â
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Croydon went the distance for the knights allowing 3 runs (1 earned) on 6 hits, 1 BB and 8 strikeouts.Â
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In game two it was Providence that took an early lead, scoring 2 runs in the top of the second inning, but in the bottom half of the frame, the Knights quickly responded.
Christina Barrett and
Tatum Fell both battled to draw walks, and
Macy Besuyen followed with her second homerun of the season, this one of the inside the park variety, to left field.Â
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Providence again took the lead in the top if the third scoring two runs on 3 hits. The Knights remained on the wrong end of a 4-3 score until the top of the 5th inning when the Argos plated one more run via two singles and a sac fly to take a 5-3 advantage late in the game. After failing to score in the 5th inning, the Knights found themselves down 2 with two innings remaining.Â
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In the bottom of the 6th, the Knights would mount a charge. The speedy Stanfill reached to lead off the inning, and after a strikeout, Besuyen was able to draw a walk. After Stanfill and Besuyen stole third and second,
Jamie Carlson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Following a rbi flyout to right by
Payton Hergert that scored Stanfill,
Devinne Amesquita stepped to the plate and ripped a double to left that plated Besuyen to knot the score at 5. With two runners on,
Ashton Porter hit a ball deep to left center that looked like it had a chance to leave the yard, but the Argo center fielder was able to track it down at the wall to end the inning.Â
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In the top of the 7th, pitcher
Abby Carlson, who came on in relief of starter
Marissa Bradshaw was able to retire the Argos in order via two groundouts and a pop fly setting the stage for some late weekend excitement.Â
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The knights first two batters were retired quickly via strikeout and pop in the bottom half of the frame, but with two outs,
Sarah Stanfill was able to draw a walk bring
Paityn Willoughby to the plate with 2 outs. Willoughby quickly went down 0-2, but was able to fight back into the count, and lined the 2-2 pitch deep to left center field to score Stanfill on the walk off double putting an exclamation point in the Knights perfect 4-0 weekend.Â
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Knight starter
Marissa Bradshaw went 3 innings giving up 4 runs on 7 hits, and
Abby Carlson earned the win in relief pitching 4 innings giving up 1 run on four hits while striking out 3
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Deeper Look
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The Knights close out this weekend 4-0 against their first ever meeting with the University of Providence, welcoming them to the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
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Flash Forward
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The Knights will head down to Eugene to face Bushnell University on April 23
rd and 24
th. On Friday the contests are scheduled to begin at 2pm and 4pm.
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