Softball

BEREA, OHIO -- The second-seeded Baldwin Wallace University softball team lost to top seeded Muskingum College, 3-2, this afternoon (May 3rd) in the finals of the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament held in New Concord. Earlier in the day, BW defeated fourth-seeded Capital University, 2-0, to advance to the finals. The Yellow Jackets finish the season with a record of 25-16.   

In the win against Capital, BW managed only four hits but the biggest and most important one was freshman catcher Nicole Loudin's (Sheffield Lake/Elyria Catholic) two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie and give the Jackets the 2-0 win. The spectacular pitching of sophomore Jeanette Brezina (Parma/Valley Forge) was more then enough to compensate for the lack of offense.  Brezina threw a three-hitter to earn her team-leading ninth victory, 12th complete game, and third shutout this season. 

Along with Loudin, senior All-OAC first baseman Amanda Opperman (North Royalton), senior All-OAC third baseman Stacey Floom (Massillon Jackson), and freshman second baseman Casey Ward (Amherst/Marion Steele) had the other hits for the Jackets.

In the game against Muskingum, the Jackets took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first but Muskingum tied it up in the bottom of the inning and took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth.  Opperman, Ward, and sophomore outfielder Emily Krile(Lancaster/Fairfield Union) had the only hits for the Jackets.

Sophomore lefthander KC Young (Olmsted Falls) went the distance allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and striking out three.  Young finishes the year with a 7-5 record and a 2.53 earned run average.

Senior shortstop/pitcher Evie Evans (Painesville Harvey) led the team in hitting at .390 and was named first-team All-OAC and to the All-Tournament team.  For her outstanding season, Loudin was named the OAC's "Freshman of the Year."  Loudin finished the year second in hitting at .388 and led the team with ten home runs and 41 runs batted in. She also was selected to the All-OAC first-team and the All-Tournament team. Brezina was the top hurler with a record of 9-4 and a 1.74 ERA.  Opponents only hit .241 off of her this year.  Brezina and Opperman joined Evans and Loudin on the All-Tournament team.

For more information regarding the 2003 OAC Tournament, please either call Muskingum College Sports Information Director Tom Caudill at (740) 826-8022, FAX him at (740) 826-8026, e-mail him at tcaudill@muskingum.edu or visit the Muskingum College Internet Web site at www.muskingum.edu. You can also call the OAC Office and Media Relations Director Julie Work at (330) 963-0444, FAX her at (330) 963-0459, e-mail her at jwork@oac.org or visit the OAC Internet Web site at www.oac.org.

FOR MORE BW 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.