Record Setting Season Ends with NCAA Regional Tournament Loss
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The Raider fell behind 4-0 after two innings and was never able to recover. Mount Union scored its first run in the top of the fourth when right fielder Lee Negrelli (Mentor) led off with a triple. Leftfielder Erin Duignan (Green) then followed up with a single through the left side scoring Negrelli.
Later, Mount trimmed the lead to just one (3-4) in the sixth when shortstop Meghan Simons (East Rochester/Minerva) hit a two-run scoring single down the left field side. Both Negrelli and firstbaseman Lindsey Royer (Louisville/Marlington) scored.
Muskingum added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as catcher Kari Hoying (Russia/Russia Local) doubled in a run giving the Muskies a 5-3 lead.
Mount Union starter Kellie Schmucker (Louisville/Marlington) suffered the loss pitching 1.1 innings giving up three runs on four hits. Royer pitched 4.2 innings in relief with four strikeouts.
At the plate, Duignan went 1-3 with one RBI, Negrelli was 2-3 with two runs scored, and Royer finished 2-2.
Overall, Mount Union finished the season with a team record 38 wins to go along with its first OAC Tournament title. Earlier in the season, the Lady Raiders set a new team record with 20 consecutive wins. Individual standout Lindsey Royer finished the season with a Raider single-season record 28-5 mark, giving her a team-record 79 career wins. Royer also finished her career with a record 695 strikeouts. Fellow teammate Erin Duignan finished her career with a .349 career batting average and a team record 120 career runs batted in.