Softball

BEREA, OHIO — The Baldwin Wallace University softball team split a pair of games against Wheaton (Ill.) College today (Monday, March 5) on its annual spring break trip to the annual Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Florida.

The Yellow Jackets, 3-1 overall, defeated Wheaton in the first game, 12-2, in four innings due to the 10-run rule but lost the nightcap to The Thunder, 8-6.

In the first game, BW broke open a scoreless game with seven runs in the bottom of the third inning and added five more in the fourth to 10-run rule The Thunder.  On the mound and at the plate, BW was led by sophomore Jessica Shaffer (Brookfield). She was credited with the victory on the mound and is 1-0 as she scattered six hits, allowed two runs (one earned), struck out five Wheaton batters and allowed just one base-on-balls. At the plate, Shaffer also had two base hits, scored two runs and had a run batted-in.

In addition to Shaffer, sophomore designated player Caitlin Myor (Sheffield Lake/ Elyria Senior) and freshman first baseman Lauren Hoffer (Crestline) each had a pair of base hits and dove in three runs. Senior All-Ohio Athletic Conference catcher Molly Sersig (West Salem/ Northwestern) and sophomore third baseman Shae Monschein (Wellington) each had a hit and a pair of RBI.

In the nightcap, BW scored three times in the top of the second and led 3-1 after Wheaton scored in the bottom of the frame. A BW run in the third made the lead 4-1 before The Thunder scored twice in the fourth and two more in the fifth for a 5-4 advantage. BW regained the lead at 6-5 in the sixth with two unearned runs, but Wheaton scored three in the bottom of the inning on a game-winning three-run homer to take the lead.

On the mound, freshman Meghan Ronk (Crestline) suffered the loss in relief of starter and sophomore Katey Munshower (Natrona Heights, Pa./ Highlands). Although BW scored six runs, the Yellow Jackets had just three hits on offense with Myor, sophomore Rachel Krause (Parma/ Valley Forge) and freshman Danielle Litton (Lodi/ Cloverleaf) each have a safety.

The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Tuesday, March 6 with a single game at 1:00 p.m. against St. Francis (Ill.) University. BW was scheduled to play Bluffton College in a single game at 9:00 a.m. but it was cancelled due to the bus tragedy last week involving its baseball team. BW also will play twice on Wednesday, March 7 and two more games on Thursday, March 8 before returning to Berea.

FOR MORE BW SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX machine at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu.  To contact Head Coach Joe Yocabet, you can call him in his office at 440-826-3398, FAX him at 440-826-2192 or e-mail him at rcochran@bw.edu.