Courtesy of Adam Hussman/MLC SID

LITTLE RIVER, S.C. — The Martin Luther College softball team made its annual spring break trip down to the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area to play 10 games against nonconference opponents.

US Coast Guard Academy 5, MLC 2 (Game 1)

The Knights began their trip playing the U.S. Coast Guard Academy on Sunday and fell to them 5-2.

In the first inning against the Bears, the Knights took an early 1-0 lead after MLC recorded four hits in the inning. Kiara Humann started it off with a lead-off double and the freshman later scored off of an error by the catcher.

In the top of the second, the Coast Guard took the lead after getting three runs on two hits. Each team would bring in a run in the fourth frame with MLC scoring off of another error by the Bears.

The Coast Guard added on one more run in the fifth and held on to their 5-2 lead from there to take the first game.

MLC finished with seven hits as Humann led the team in that category (2).

MLC 9, SUNY Canton Kangaroos 4 (Game 2)

MLC softball earned its first win of the 2026 season in its first contest of two Monday down in Myrtle Beach. The Knights took down the SUNY Canton Kangaroos 9-4.

After trailing the Kangaroos 4-2 at the end of the third inning, MLC stormed back with a four-run bottom of the fifth. The rally started when the Knights scored off an error in the infield. From there, Rachel McCaughna and Katie Rassat executed a double steal, with McCaughna stealing home. Kaylee Pickering and Chloe Berg each had an RBI double to give the Knights a 6-4 advantage.

In the bottom of the sixth, MLC benefited from Canton’s third error of the game and brought in three runs to ice the game away.

Pickering and Rassat each finished with a team-high (three RBIs). McCaughna (two hits, three runs) led MLC in both categories as Kiara Humann also recorded two base hits and a pair of runs herself.

Sophomore Kieghtan Rank pitched a complete game on the mound for the Knights. Rank secured her first win for the Knights after allowing only four runs (one earned) while striking out six Kangaroo batters.

PSU Harrisburg 12,

MLC 2

In the second game of the day on Monday, MLC softball took on Penn State-Harrisburg after defeating SUNY Canton in the earlier game.

MLC matched the Nittany Lions’ run total after the first inning, with each squad scoring once. However, Penn State-Harrisburg added another run in the second and followed that up by breaking the game open with three in the third and five runs scored in the top of the fifth inning to beat the Knights 12-2.

Despite the loss, Kiara Humann had another solid game in the lead-off spot, playing at shortstop. The freshman scored both of MLC’s runs, while Kaylee Pickering recorded the Knights’ lone RBI in the bottom of the fifth.

Penn State-Harrisburg was patient at the plate and drew nine walks, getting on base frequently.