BEREA, OHIO-- The Baldwin-Wallace College softball team evened its record at 2-2 today (Tuesday, March 9) with a pair of victories at the annual Tucson Invitational in Tucson, Arizona. In the first game, B-W defeated Northwestern (Iowa) University, 6-3, and then beat the College of St. Mary from Nebraska, 10-2, in a game called after five innings due to the eight-run rule.
In the victory versus Northwestern Iowa, the Raiders grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning before the Yellow Jackets tied it at 1-1 with a run of their own in the bottom of the first and took a 4-1 lead with three more in the second. Northwestern scored a run in each the fourth and fifth innings to close to 4-3 but BW added a pair in the sixth and held the Raiders scoreless in the seventh to earn the win.
At the plate, B-W had eight base hits compared to six for Northwestern. Junior two-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference and All-Central Region catcher Tanya Davis (Hinckley/ Medina Highland) led the way by going four-for-four with two doubles, one run scored and three runs batted-in. In addition, junior outfielder Chelsea Saunders (Medina/ Highland) was three-for-four with two runs scored. Sophomore starting pitcher Sara Baker (Mentor/ Lake Catholic) had the other hit and drove in a pair of runs.
On the mound, Baker evened her season mark at 1-1 as she pitched a complete-game six-hitter, allowed three runs (two earned), struck out four Northwestern batters and walked four.
In the victory versus the College of St. Mary, B-W scored once in the bottom of the first inning and then blew the game open and took a commanding 10-0 lead with an nine-run third. The Flames then scored their two runs in the fourth.
At the plate, B-W had five players each with one base hit, eight different runners scored the 10 runs, including two each by senior shortstop Mallory Kobak (Independence) and Saunders. In addition, Kobak stole a pair of bases and freshman OF Morgan Brasee (Wellington) had a double and two RBI.
On the mound, junior Mackenzie Rohrbacher (Sandusky/ Senior) started, earned the win to even her season mark at 1-1 and pitched the first four innings. Junior Alyssa Brosious (Westfield, N.Y./ Westfield Academy and Central School) followed her to the mound to pitch a scoreless fifth and final inning. Rohrbacher allowed four hits and two runs (both earned), struck out five and did not walk a batter. Brosious allowed two base hits in her inning of work.
Tomorrow, B-W faces Monmouth (Ill.) College in a doubleheader at 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. EST, respectively, and then faces Viterbo (Wisc.) University at 8:00 p.m. EST. The Yellow Jackets then close out their southern trip schedule on Thursday, March 11 when they play Monmouth for the third time and end the trip versus Cardinal Stritch (Wisc.) University.
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 Nick Minerd by phone at 440-826-2780 and e-mail at nminerd@bw.edu. Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bwathletics.
