KENOSHA, Wis. – The Parkside softball team played host to the Grand Valley State Lakers on Tuesday afternoon. The Rangers would steal game two over the 18
th ranked Lakers by run rule 8-0. Game two would take extra innings to decide as the Rangers would fall 14-6.
Game One
The first game was all Rangers thanks to a phenomenal offensive showing and a complete game shutout effort from
Olivia Masnica. Masnica was stellar on the mound for Parkside, limiting the No. 18 Lakers to just two total hits in game one. She earned her fifth win of the season in a 58 total pitch outing.
The Rangers offense set the tone in the bottom half of the first inning.
Mia Johnson would launch a two-run home run out to left center field. Her team leading fourth home run of the season gave the Rangers the 2-0 advantage.
The home runs were just getting started for the Rangers.
Megan Medlin would send one over the left field fence in the third inning. The two-run home run was Medlin's first of the season and the first of her career. She made the lead swell to 4-0 in favor of the Rangers.
The fourth inning was a four-run inning for the Rangers.
Rylee Baetz got things started with a single, and smart base running by the Rangers on errors by the Lakers allowed two runs to cross the plate.
Megan Medlin continued her hot streak, sending a single down the left field line to score another Ranger run. Medlin would finish game one 3-3 with three RBIs.
Tia Livernash would round out the scoring with a RBI single up the middle to make the score 8-0.
Olivia Masnica would add the finishing touch by allowing just one hit in the fifth inning while retiring the Grand Valley State side. The Rangers would hand the Lakers their first run rule loss since 2021.
Game Two
Game two featured a thrilling back and forth battle between the two sides that would take eight innings to decide a victor.
Ellie Curtis would have a fantastic day on the mound. Outside of the extra innings, she would allow just 10 hits through seven innings of work with eight strike outs.
The Lakers would strike first with a home run in the second inning. Parkside responded well as Medlin would deliver a solo shot to left center field to collect her second home run of the day. She would bring the Rangers closer as they would trail the Lakers 2-1 at the conclusion of the second inning.
Parkside would draw even in the third inning. A one out RBI double down the left field line off the bat of
Mia Johnson would bring the Rangers even at 2-2.
A fourth inning GVSU home run would distance the Lakers by two runs.
Toni Rodriguez would respond for the Rangers with a long ball out to left field. Her two-run home run would be her second of the season and tie the game once again, this time 4-4.
More runs would cross the plate in the fifth inning. GVSU would bring home a run on a sacrifice fly to give themselves a 5-4 advantage. The Rangers would answer in their half of the inning.
Megan Medlin would once again be the hero for the Rangers, this time knocking a double down the left field line to bring in two Ranger runs and give the Rangers a 6-5 lead. Medlin finished the day with six total RBIs.
Grand Valley State posted a run in the top half of the sixth inning to knot things up at 6-6. Neither side would post a run in the seventh inning, forcing the game to go to an extra frame. The Lakers offense would explode for eight runs making the game virtually out of reach for the Rangers. Parkside would have no answer in the bottom half of the inning as the Lakers would take game two 14-6.
Up Next
The Rangers will play in their final home games of the season on Thursday against Davenport. The GLIAC doubleheader is set for a 3 p.m. first pitch for game one. Coverage for both games can be found at ParksideRangers.com/coverage.
