COLUMBUS, Miss. – The Louisiana Christian University softball team held Mississippi University for Women scoreless in both games of their doubleheader to sweep both games from the Owls, 15-0 in five innings in game one and 4-0 in the nightcap at Don Usher Field.
 
Game 1 – Louisiana Christian 15, Mississippi University for Women 0 (5 innings)
 
The Wildcats used the old adage of get them on, get them over, and get them in to strike in the first inning. Emma Hunt led off the game with a base hit to center, stole second, was bunted over to third by Lexie Marks, and scored on Olivia Coaker's sacrifice fly to right to give LCU a 1-0 lead.
 
But LCU blew the game wide open with an eight-spot in the second inning to all but end the game early. Kayla Dauthier started things off with a double and BreAnna Corkern dropped a base hit into left-center to set the table for Hailey Vitrano. Vitrano found the left field line for a double to bring home both runners and put LCU up 3-0. KayeLea Dearmon traded places with Vitrano with a double to right to make it 4-0. After a Maci Rozas base hit moved Dearmon to third, a grounder to second by Emma Hunt did the job by getting Dearmon home for a 5-0 lead. A ground ball to third by Olivia Coaker was thrown away, allowing Rozas to score. Bella Houck put a giant exclamation point on the inning with a three-run home run to left to make the score 9-0 when the inning ended.
 
LCU snuck in a run in the third inning to extend the lead. KayeLea Dearmon drew a walk to open the frame and Meredith Perry was summoned to run for her. Perry moved to second when Emma Hunt drew a walk, then hurried home from second on Olivia Coaker's base hit to left, touching home plate moments before the third out of the inning was recorded behind her to make it 10-0.
 
The runs continued in the fourth inning as the Wildcats tried to make sure the game would end early. Bella Houck started the game with a base hit and Macy Taylor was brought in to run for her. Taylor moved to second on Stella Shaw's base on balls, and then got to third on Hailey Vitrano's single to right field. She scored on Dearmon's ground ball to short to make the score 11-0. Desiree Squires's fly ball to center was dropped, allowing both Shaw and Candice Hobbs to come home for a 13-0 lead at the end of the fourth inning. 
 
LCU added two more in the fifth as BreAnna Corkern doubled to center, scoring Stella Shaw and Olivia Coaker from second and third, respectively, for the game's final runs.
 
Five different Wildcats each got two hits in game one, ed by Kayla Dauthier going two-for-two with a double and a run scored. Olivia Coaker went two-for-three with two RBI and two runs scored. Hailey Vitrano was also two-for-three with a double, a run scored, and two RBI. Bella Houck went two-for-four and hit her second home run of the season, which accounted for all three of her RBI and lone run scored. BreAnna Corkern also went two-for-four with a double, two RBI, and a run scored.
 
Bailey McMillian (4-1) threw 3.1 innings of no-hit ball as she struck out three and walked one. Olivia Coaker came on in the fourth inning and allowed just one hit in the final 1.2 innings with no walks and two strikeouts as the two pitchers combined for the shut out.
 
Game 2 – Louisiana Christian 4, Mississippi University for Women 0
 
The second game was much different from the first as both teams had to work to get runs across. LCU finally broke through in the top of the third inning as Kayla Dauthier started the contest with a double down the left field line. Hailey Vitrano moved her to third on a sacrifice bunt, and Desiree Squires got the job done with a base hit up the middle to score Dauthier for the game's first run.
 
LCU finally got some breathing room in the fifth inning as Kayla Dauthier singled to open the frame and moved to second on yet another Hailey Vitrano sacrifice bunt before Maci Rozas was sent in to run for Dauthier. Desiree Squires made it not matter who was on the base paths as she smashed a triple to left to score Rozas for a 2-0 lead. Emma Hunt would not allow Squires to remain on third long as she beat out a base hit to the shortstop, scoring Squires, for a 3-0 lead when as the fifth inning ended.
 
Needing to get some two-out insurance, Hailey Vitrano got herself in scoring position as she tripled down the right field line. Desiree Squires made sure it paid off as she dropped a base hit into center field as Vitrano touched the plate to make it 4-0, which ended up being the game's final run.
 
Desiree Squires saw the ball well in game two, going three-for-three at the plate with a triple, three RBI, and a run scored. Hailey Vitrano was one-for-one with a triple, two sacrifice hits, and a run scored. Kayla Dauthier was two-for-three with a double and a run scored.
 
Brooke Ross (3-2) threw a complete game shutout, throwing all seven innings and gave up just five hits and no runs with one walk and six strikeouts.
 
The Wildcats (13-3) head to Gulf Shores this weekend for the big Gulf Shores Invitational where LCU will play five games over three days. LCU's first games at Gulf Shores will be on Friday against #13 Central Methodist and (RV) Mobile. First pitch of the game against the Eagles (3-1) is set for 11:15 A.M. while the game against the Rams (11-0) is set for 1:30 P.M., all at the Gulf Shores Sports Complex.