INDIANAPOLIS – Mt. Vernon played their first game of the season Monday night. Cathedral played their sixth. The disparity showed, as the Irish defeated the Marauders 17-0 in five innings in the cold.
The game was moved from Mt. Vernon to Cathedral due to the wet Marauder field, and Cathedral looked right at home from the beginning, scoring eight runs off Mt. Vernon starting pitcher Kaitlyn Nugent in the first three innings.
Mt. Vernon was unable to match Cathedral’s offensive output, as the Marauders only managed one hit, by freshman Riley Hasseld in the fourth inning. Irish pitcher Annika Garwood managed nine strikeouts in her five innings pitched.
“It was our first time seeing live pitching, so of course we’ve got some things to work on, but I know we’ve got talent to contend going forward,” Marauders coach Veronica Kirby said afterwards. “Our girls were super-nervous for whatever reason, but I know we will keep getting better.”
Cathedral was ahead 9-0 entering the fifth inning, and they were able to tack on eight runs in the inning to get over the 10 runs needed to end the game in the fifth.
The season-opening loss drops the Marauders record to 0-1. They will get another chance at their first win Thursday as they travel to face Arsenal Tech.
