BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College softball team will open the northern portion of its schedule on March 26 when it travels to Ohio Wesleyan University for a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader. The Yellow Jackets open northern play with a 6-3 overall record following their annual spring break trip to the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Florida.
On the trip to Florida, B-W received solid hitting and pitching and ended the trip by winning its final four games, including a 9-6 win against OWU.
"We are pleased with the results of our trip," said veteran coach Joe Yocabet. "We played competitively against the ranked teams and beat the teams we should have beaten. Our pitching staff is deep and our hitting attack began to come around near the end of the trip. We still have work to do. We are pleased so far."
Offensively, the Yellow Jackets were led by a pair of freshmen. Infielder/ designated hitter Casey Ward (Amherst/ Marion Steele) had the top batting average at .421 overall. She was joined above .400 by catcher Nikki Loudin (Sheffield Lake/ Elyria Catholic) who batted .414, tied for the team-lead with 12 base hits, scored the most runs (eight) and had one double, one triple, a team-leading two home runs and nine runs batted-in.
In addition to the first-year duo, senior three-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference and All-Central Region shortstop/pitcher Evie Evans (Painesville Harvey) had a fine trip. At the plate, Evans batted .375 (12 of 32) with six runs scored, two doubles, a triple, two RBI and two stolen bases. On the mound, she had a 2-1 pitching mark with a 3.60 earned run average in 11 and two-thirds innings of work. On the final day of the trip, Evans earned wins in relief against both OWU and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
Senior two-time All-Central Region first baseman Amanda Opperman (North Royalton) had a strong trip. She batted .321 with two doubles. Junior All-OAC outfielder Emily Krile (Lancaster/ Fairfield Union) hit .333 with four runs scored, four RBI and three stolen bases. Senior All-OAC outfielder Amanda Roble (Columbiana) batted .318 with a triple, three RBI and a steal. Senior All-OAC third baseman Stacey Floom (Massillon Jackson) also played well. She hit .259 with six runs scored, two doubles, a triple, a homer and eight RBI.
In addition to Evans, the Yellow Jacket pitching staff was solid. Junior All-OAC hurler Liz Fries (Columbus Bishop Watterson) had a 2-1 record with a team-leading 1.17 ERA in a team-leading 18 innings pitched. She is tied with sophomore K.C. Young (Olmsted Falls) for the most strikeouts with 11. Young finished the trip 1-0 with a 2.39 ERA in 14 and two-thirds innings. Sophomore Jeanette Brezina (Parma Hts./ Valley Forge), who also plays second base, had a 1-1 record with a 1.43 ERA in 14 and two-thirds innings of work. At the plate, Brezina batted .214 with six runs scored and three RBI.
Following its twinbill versus OWU, B-W will then play again on March 29 at Notre Dame College of Ohio. The first home games are on Tuesday, April 1, against Ohio Athletic Conference archrival Mount Union College at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds Field in Berea.
FOR MORE B-W SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. To contact Head Coach Joe Yocabet, please call him at 440-826-3398, FAX him at 440-826-2192 or 6980.
275 Eastland Rd.