BEREA, OHIO – Junior right-handed pitcher Nikki Peskura (Strongsville) tossed five innings and earned her first career win as the Baldwin Wallace University softball team defeated NAIA Lourdes University, 10-2 in six innings, in the first game of a non-league doubleheader at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds Field. The second game is set to start in 30 minutes.
The win improves BW to 11-4 overall and is the Yellow Jackets' third straight victory. Lourdes dropped to 4-11 overall.
Lourdes took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning after freshman Bre Megyesi doubled in freshman Lauren Marstin, who reach base on a bunt single.
BW quickly took a 3-1 lead in the bottom half of the opening frame. Peskura and senior right fielder Alyssa Brown (Hudson) sandwiched singles around a double by junior All-Ohio Athletic Conference designated player Tabitha Murray, and sophomore shortstop Brittany Lightel (Tallmadge) cleared the bases with a double.
The Jackets tacked on a run in the second when Murray reached base on an error by freshman Ashley Yeager, scoring junior catcher Sami Brown (Kent/ Field), who drew a one-out walk.
With one out and runners on the corners in the Lourdes fifth, Marstin grounded out to score freshman Taylor Derr, cutting the BW lead to 4-2.
BW batted around in the sixth inning and rallied for six runs. A run batted-in single by freshman second baseman Alison Fiorucci (Seven Hills/Holy Name), a sacrifice fly by Sami Brown (Kent/Field), and two-run double by Murray keyed the scoring jaunt. A walk-off RBI single by Alyssa Brown ended the game after six innings.
The hitting attack was led by Murray, who was 2-for-4 with her team-leading seventh and eighth doubles of the season, two RBI and one run scored. Alyssa Brown was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run, and Lightel was 1-for-3 with two RBI and one run.
On the mound, Peskura started and allowed both runs (one earned) on six hits, struck out five batters and walked two, and earned her first career victory. Murray worked one inning in relief and struck out a pair.
BW will continue a stretch of five doubleheaders in six days when it hosts Ohio Athletic Conference rival the University of Mount Union tomorrow, Saturday, April 6 at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds in a twinbill at 1:00 p.m. The Yellow Jackets also host non-league foe Bethany (W.Va.) College on Monday at 3:30 p.m. and then entertain OAC rival Capital University on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. to end an eight-game homestand.
FOR MORE BW 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 BW athletics information at www.bwyellowjackets.com and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.
