BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College softball team completes its trip south with a split and will return home with a 6-4 record. The Yellow Jackets defeated Misericordia (Pa.) College, 5-3, and lost a heartbreaker to the College of New Jersey, 6-4, in nine innings on Thursday in Kissimee, Florida.
In the first game, Misericordia (Pa.) College took in early 3-0 lead in the second inning. B-W would answer back in the top of the third scoring three runs. Junior Amy Gladieux (Northwood) tied the game on a RBI double allowing sophomore K.C. Ward (Amherst/ Steele) to score from third. The Yellow Jackets would take the lead with a two-run fifth inning highlighted by a run scoring triple by junior K.C. Young (Olmsted Twp./ Olmsted Falls). Solid defense by B-W would prevent anymore Misericordia runs from scoring for the 5-3 victory.
Senior Liz Fries (Columbus/ Bishop Watterson) pitched all seven innings allowing just the three runs on seven hits including three strikeouts. With the win, Fries improves her record to 2-1 on the year.
In the second game against nationally ranked College of New Jersey, the Lions took an early 3-0 lead in the third inning. B-W would score two runs in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a single by Young and a double by sophomore Nicole Loudin (Sheffield Lake/ Elyria Catholic). The score would remain 3-2 until the Yellow Jackets would tie the game during their last at bat in the bottom of the seventh. B-W would have the bases loaded with two outs when freshman Lauren Helowicz (Williamsville, N.Y./ Clarence) hit a single scoring Young from third. The Yellow Jackets would fail to score again in regulation sending the game in to extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, B-W would hold New Jersey scoreless setting up an opportunity to win the game needing only one run. The Yellow Jackets started out their first extra inning of play with junior Jackie White (Cleveland/ Holy Name) on second. White would advance to third on a wild pitch opening the door for B-W. Freshman Lori Schmidt (Brunswick) lined out to the third baseman preventing White from scoring. K.C. Ward would reach first on a fielder's choice as White would be called out on a controversial play at third base. The inning would end on a Young strikeout. The College of New Jersey took advantage in the ninth, scoring three runs to take a 6-3 lead. B-W would manage one run to cut the lead to 6-4, but would not score anymore runs as the College of New Jersey went on to the 6-4 victory.
K.C. Young went the distance and suffered her third loss of the season to fall to 1-3 on the year. She gave up 13 hits and struck out six batters.
B-W will return home to Berea to face Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday, Mar. 11 at the Cuyahoga County Softball Field at 1 p.m.
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 or FAX him at 440-826-2192
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