TUCSON, Ariz. – The Baldwin Wallace University softball team won its fourth straight game and its second straight sweep as it won a pair of games on day four of competition at the annual Tucson Invitational Games at Lincoln Park.
BW (7-1), who has now swept three days of action, jumped all over NAIA seventh nationally-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University in the first game by a final score of 14-0 in five innings. The Yellow Jackets improved to 5-0 against NCAA Division III opponents as it defeated North Central (Minn.) University for the third time this week by a final score of 8-0 in five innings.
In game one, BW scored 14 runs on 17 hits as it exploded for eight runs in the first inning highlighted by a grand slam and first collegiate homerun for senior All-Ohio Athletic Conference and Academic All-OAC right fielder Alexis Boledovic (Brook Park/Berea-Midpark). The Yellow Jackets added two runs in the second, one in the third, two in fourth and one in the fifth. Indiana Wesleyan was held scoreless and did not record a hit until the bottom of the fourth inning. The Wildcats had only other hit which they got in the final inning.
BW was led by Boledovic, senior All-OAC shortstop Erica English (North Olmsted) and senior left fielder Abbie Thompson (Madison) as the trio combined for nine hits and nine runs batted-in (RBIs). Boledovic went 3-for-5 with a double, homerun, four RBIs and three runs scored. English was 3-for-4 with four RBIs and one run scored. Thompson went 3-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored.
In addition, junior center fielder Macy Leach (Westerville/Central) was 2-for-4 with a double, triple, RBI and two runs scored. Junior Academic All-OAC second baseman Alex Kozich (Avon) went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Four other Yellow Jackets recorded a base knock.
In the circle, freshman right hander Nikki Camarati (Brunswick/Holy Name) picked up her first career shutout as she allowed just two hits in five innings with six strikeouts and one walk. Camarati improved to 2-1 on the season with 23 strikeouts and six walks.
In game two, BW scored eight runs on 10 hits as it plated three runs in the first, one in the second and sealed the game with four runs in the fourth. North Central did not score on two hits.
The Yellow Jacket offense was led by Boledovic as she went 3-for-3 with a triple, RBI and stolen base. Seven other BW hitters reach based led by the junior catcher Talia Prignano (Avon Lake) and junior designated player/pitcher Nikki Turner (Hudson) with an extra base knock and an RBI. Prignano legged out her first career triple and Turner recorded her fifth career double.
In the circle, freshman right hander Hannah Welling (Ravenna) picked up her first collegiate victory as she did not allow a run on two hits with a career-high tying five strikeouts and two walks.
The Yellow Jackets conclude their spring break trip at the Tucson Invitational games with two NCAA Division III contests against Cornell College (Iowa) and Millikin (Ill.) University at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.