CLINCHED! AMC Tournament next after UHSP sweeps HLGU in DH

HANNIBAL, MO – The Eutectics came into their regular season finale knowing exactly what would give them the final spot in the American Midwest Conference Tournament. Facing a club with an identical conference mark on the final day of play, UHSP knew that sweeping a doubleheader from Hannibal-LaGrange would seal the 8-seed for the Eutectics. Splitting the doubleheader would force a tie-breaker situation between the two clubs to see who the tournament's final seed would be. UHSP elected to just make things academic and with a 10-7 and 12-4 twin bill sweep, the Eutectics were officially in the AMC Tournament.

Lexi Knoll got the start in the circle in game one and did not get much run support early. In fact, the Trojans took a 1-0 lead in the second on a Payton Seip RBI double. UHSP tied it in the third when Lacie Christensen tripled to lead off the inning and scored on a Kailey Samora RBI groundout. Then the Eutectic offense exploded for four in the fourth and five in the fifth to take a commanding 10-1 lead. The Purple and Gold scored four runs on just two hits in the fourth as two runs scored on wild pitches from HLGU starter Emma Angel. Payton Reinbott and Christensen collected RBI's in the inning. Angel was lifted after four in lieu of Sierra Adkins. The first two batters to face Adkins in the fifth reached on hits. Sydney Hinojosa drove in a run with a fielder's choice. Reinbott knocked in a pair with a single up the middle and Christensen followed with another RBI single. Hannibal-LaGrange made things interesting late as they plated two in the fifth and scored four more in the seventh to trail 10-7. The Trojans had the tying run at the plate but Emma Henley who came on with two outs in the seventh induced a groundout to end the game and deliver the win for the Eutectics. Knoll picked up the win going six-and-two-thirds allowing seven runs on ten hits with two walks and a strikeout. Angel took the loss as she was touched for five runs in her four innings with a walk and five hits. Kianna Pilling, Payton Reinbott and Lacie Christensen were each 2-for-4 with Reinbott driving in three.

The win put UHSP in a good spot heading into game two and they wasted no time jumping on HLGU starter Miranda Saylor. It was three runs in each of the first two innings to build a 6-0 lead forcing the removal of Saylor after just two innings as five of her six runs allowed were earned. She allowed nine hits, two walks with a strikeout. In the first, Lexi Knoll started the rally with a two-out double and scored when Hinojosa singled to right. After Makenzie Ness singled and stole second, Pilling doubled in Knoll and Ness to give UHSP a 3-0 lead. That same part of the lineup delivered an inning later when Knoll singled to drive in a run, Ness doubled and Pilling drove in a pair with a single. Emma Henley started game two for the Purple and Gold and the only runs against her came in a four-run fourth. UHSP put the game away though scoring six runs over the final three innings as Samora drove in three runs over that span while Hunter Noto and Ness accounted for the other RBI's. Henley struck out two in the complete game win scattering ten hits. Saylor was tagged for the loss. Lexi Knoll was 4-for-5 in the win while Hunter Noto and Kianna Pilling were both 3-for-5 with Pilling driving in four.

UHSP (13-25, 5-13 AMC) extends their season with the doubleheader sweep and advance to the AMC Postseason Tournament as they will be the 8-seed and face top-ranked Missouri Baptist. The Spartans (31-9, 16-2) just took a pair from the Eutectics on Friday with wins of 12-0 (5) and 7-2. The Eutectics will have nine days off though before they face MBU in the AMC Quarterfinals. The tournament begins on Tuesday, April 30 with the 1-Spartans and 8-Eutectics getting the opening game at 10:00a from the Antimi Softball Complex in Columbia, MO. Missouri Baptist still has four regular season road games left on their 2024 slate as they visit Friends next Friday and Avila the day after on Saturday, Apr. 27.