Softball Team Drops OAC Opener

Posted: Mar 25, 2012

WESTERVILLE, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College softball team drops its Ohio Athletic Conference opening doubleheader against Otterbein University today (Sunday, March 25, 2012) by final scores of 10-2 in five innings and 4-3 in seven innings. This marked the OAC opener for both teams.

With the losses, the Yellow Jackets fell to 8-6 overall and 0-2 in the OAC. The Cardinals improved to 10-4 overall and 2-0 in the OAC.

In game one, B-W jumped out to an early lead when sophomore first baseman Kaity Mullen (Avon Lake) hit a two-run home run over the left field fence in the top of the second inning. Sophomore third baseman Lauren Feciuch (Kent/Field) scored on the homerun after she reached on a double to left field. The homerun was the first of the season and the fifth career shot for Mullen.

Otterbein would score four runs in the bottom of the third and five in the bottom of the fourth as Casey Clarridge hit a homerun in each inning and had six runs batted-in. The Cardinals would close out the game in the bottom of the fifth inning as they would plate the decisive 10th run on a wild pitch.

Offensively, the Yellow Jackets were led by Feciuch, freshman shortstop Brittany Lightel (Tallmadge) and Mullen as each recorded one of the three B-W hits.

On the mound, two Yellow Jacket pitchers combined to allow 10 runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and just one walk.

In game two, B-W took a 1-0 lead when sophomore outfielder Ashley Elber (Huron/Edison) led off the top of the third inning with a base hit to right center field. Elber would advanced to second as she beat out the throw on the fielder's choice by second baseman Katie Finley (Vermilion). Elber and Finley would move up to third and second base respectively on the infield single bunt by sophomore catcher Meghan Kossow (Tonawanda, N.Y.). Elber would score the run on a fielder's choice and RBI by senior pitcher Sarah Baker (Mentor/Lake Catholic).

Otterbein would take the lead, 3-1, in the bottom of the fourth inning as it plated three runs on five hits.

The Yellow Jackets would tie the game, 3-3, in the top of the fourth inning. Finley reached first on a throwing error and would advance to second on sacrifice bunt by Kossow. Lightel would have a base knock to right field and Finley advanced to third. Finley would score and Lightel advanced to second on the base hit by Baker. Sophomore designate player Tabitha Murray (Mogadore/Field) would load the bases as she reached on an error. Feciuch would get an RBI single to score Lightel.

The Cardinals would win the game, 4-3, on a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Offensively, B-W had seven hits from seven players as Baker, junior outfielder Alyssa Brown (Hudson) , Elber, Feciuch, Finley, Kossow and Lightel all recorded a hit.

On the mound, Baker would suffer her first loss of the season as she pitched six innings and allowed four runs. She recorded two strikeouts, including a key one with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning, and surrendered just one walk.

The Yellow Jackets return to action on Monday, March 26 when they will travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to take on Chatham University in a non-conference doubleheader at 3:30 p.m. B-W will play its home opener on Wednesday, March 28 when it will host Geneva (Pa.) College in a non-conference doubleheader on the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds Field in at 3:30 p.m. The Yellow Jackets remain at home and play doubleheaders against Cleveland cross-town rival Case Western Reserve University on Thursday, March 31 at 3:30 p.m. and then an OAC twinbill versus Muskingum University on Saturday, March 31 at 1:00 p.m.

FOR MORE B-W SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email at jefmille@bw.edu Fans can access the latest B-W athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.