MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.- The Mighty Macs (7-1) wrapped up an outstanding start to their 2019 season in Myrtle Beach on Thursday as they split their final two games of the trip, giving them seven wins in eight games, the best start the program has had in recent memory.  The Macs fell to Iowa Wesleyan, 3-0, in the opener, but they bounced back in a big way with an 11-0 victory over Morrisville State in game two.
 
Sophomore Emma Bischoff went the distance in game one with 12 strikeouts, and didn't allow a hit until the sixth, but the Macs couldn't withstand a late rally.  In game two, the Mighty Macs had 11 runs, 11 hits, and sent 16 hitters to the plate in a huge third inning to go home winners.  Senior Jessica Bormann and freshman Sarah Guido combined on a two-hit shutout.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME 1
-This game was a pitchers' duel the whole way, and started out as such with neither team registering a hit for the first four inning and Bischoff collected nine of her 12 strikeouts in four no-hit innings
-Sophomore Keani Hindle continued her hot start to the season with a single in the fourth, but was stranded
-Bischoff again retired the side in order in the fifth, and junior Michaela Petito and senior Jessica Bormann each singled, but they were stranded after a pair of strikeouts
-Bischoff started the sixth the same way she had dominated the first five frames with a pair of strikeouts, but Iowa Wesleyan then strung together four consecutive singles to take a 2-0 lead
-They added another in the top of the seventh, but the Macs didn't go quietly despite trailing by three.  They loaded the bases on an error and singles by Petito and Bormann, but a strikeout and groundout ended the game
 
IU AT THE PLATE
-Petito: 2-3
-Bormann: 2-3
 
MACS IN THE CIRCLE
-Bischoff (L, 1-1): 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, BB, 12 K
 
GAME 2
-Bormann produced six strikeouts and allowed two hits over the first three innings of shutout ball, and after the Macs were unable to convert with some baserunners in the second, they didn't miss in the third
-The scoring started with an RBI double by junior Ashley Rey to score freshman Katy Newton, and junior Emily Mesey then tripled home Rey for the first two runs.  An RBI groundout by freshman Cat Knoll made it 3-0 and the next nine Mighty Macs would then reach safely
-Bormann added an RBI single, and the next three runs came by way of error before Rey stepped to the plate and hit a two run home run, her first of the season to blow the game open at 9-0
-RBI singles by Petito and sophomore Paige Gerst put the score at 11-0
-Guido came on in relief, and in her first collegiate appearance, she struck out three and retired all six batters she faced
 
IU AT THE PLATE
-Rey: 2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR
-Carter: 2-3, R
-Mesey: 2-3, 3B, RBI
-Petito: 2-3, R, RBI
 
MACS IN THE CIRCLE
-Bormann (W, 3-0): 3 IP, 2 H, 6 K
-Guido: 2 IP, 3 K
 
UP NEXT
The Mighty Macs will come back north and travel to Haverford on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.