BETHANY, WEST VIRGINIA --  The Baldwin-Wallace College softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader today (Tuesday, March 20, 2012) at Bethany College by scores of 3-2 in eight innings in the opener and 7-3 in the nightcap.  This was a battle of two teams who each appeared in last spring's 2011 NCAA Division III Regional Tournament (B-W won, 6-3).

With the wins, the Yellow Jackets improve to 8-4 overall. The Bison are now 3-8 overall. 

In game two of the doubleheader, senior pitcher Sarah Baker (Mentor/ Lake Catholic) picked up her 40th career win on the mound. With the win, she is now currently tied for first all-time in wins in school history with Hall of Famer Donna Wheeler (1989-92).
 
In game one, the B-W offense got out to an early one run lead in the first inning when sophomore pitcher Tabitha Murray (Mogadore/ Field) doubled to center field to score sophomore outfielder Ashley Elber (Huron/ Edison). Elber reached base with a single.

In the bottom half of the first, Bethany answered by scoring two runs of its own on a two-run homerun. The game would remain 2-1 until the Yellow Jacket offense struck in the top of the seventh when freshman designated hitter Mackenzie Brua (Avon) reached first base on a fielder's choice to start the inning. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and then to third on a groundout. Junior outfielder Alyssa Brown (Hudson) then singled to center field for the game-tying run to send the game into extra innings.

In the top of the eighth inning, sophomore third baseman Lauren Feciuch (Kent/Field) would end up scoring what proved to be the game winning run on a throwing error by the Bison third baseman. She reached first via a single, advanced to second on a Baker single and scored from second on the error.

The B-W offense was led by Murray, Feciuch and Brown. Murray went 2-for-3 at the plate with two doubles, one run batted-in and a walk. Feciuch was 2-for-4 with the game-winning run. Brown was 1-for-4 with the game-tying RBI.

On the mound, Murray would go the distance to pick up the win in eight innings. She allowed three base hits, two runs (both earned) struck out six and walked two as she tossed her sixth complete game and upped her record to 3-2 overall.
 
In game two, the B-W offense came back from a 3-1 deficit after five innings. The Yellow Jackets would score one run in the sixth inning and exploded for five runs on five hits in the top of the seventh to pick up the victory.

The offense was led by sophomore first baseman Kaity Mullen (Avon Lake), freshman shortstop Brittany Lightel (Tallmadge) and Brown. Mullen went a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI. Lightel was 2-for-4 at the plate with a stolen base. Brown would go 1-for-4 with three RBI via a bases loaded double in the seventh.

On the mound, Baker recorded her third win of the season to improve to a perfect 3-0 overall. She pitched all seven innings, allowed three base hits, three runs (two earned), struck out two and walked one.

The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Saturday, March 24 when they travel to Westerville to open Ohio Athletic Conference action with a doubleheader against Otterbein University at 1:00 p.m.   B-W will play its home opener on Wednesday, March 28 when it welcomes Geneva (Pa.) College to the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds Field for a non-conference doubleheader at 3:30 p.m.