Jackets Split Doubleheader in Home-Opener

Posted: Mar 28, 2012

BEREA, OHIO -- The Baldwin-Wallace College softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Geneva (Pa.) College today (Wednesday, March 28, 2012) in its home-opener at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds Field. This was the first two games of a six-game homestand. B-W also plays cross-town rival Case Western Reserve University in a home doubleheader tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. and hosts Muskingum University in an Ohio Athletic Conference twinbill this Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

With the split, the Yellow Jackets now have an overall record of 11-7 while Geneva now has an overall mark of 12-9

In game one, the Golden Tornadoes took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning before B-W would tied the game back at 2-2 in the bottom of the second. Sophomore pitcher Tabitha Murray (Mogadore/Field) would lead off the inning with a double down the left field line. Murray would score on the two-run home run by sophomore first baseman Kaity Mullen (Avon Lake). The homer was the second of the season and the second in three games for Mullen.

Geneva would take the lead for good on a two-run home run by Ashley Davis in the top of the fifth inning.

The Yellow Jackets would cut the lead down to 4-3 in the top of the sixth inning as junior right fielder Alyssa Brown (Hudson) led off with a double. Sophomore Kate Carabin (Norwalk/St. Paul) came into pinch run for Brown and would advance to third on the single through the right side by Murray. Sophomore third baseman Lauren Feciuch (Kent/Field) singled through the left side to score Carabin and advanced Murray to second. After a sacrifice bunt by Mullen and a fielder's choice my sophomore center fielder Ashley Elber (Huron/Edison), the Yellow Jackets would leave the bases loaded.

The B-W offense was led Murray who went 3-for-3 with a double and run scored. Mullen went 1-for-2 with a home run and two runs batted-in.

On the mound, Murray picked up the loss and now has a record of 4-4 on the season. She tossed seven innings allowed four runs (two earned) with 10 strikeouts and two walks.

In game two, the Yellow Jacket offense scored five runs on eight hits and picked up their sixth shutout of the season and second of the week.

B-W would take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as freshman shortstop Brittany Lightel (Tallmadge) reached on error to lead off the inning. Lightel would advance to third on a ground out by freshman left fielder Mackenzie Brua (Avon) and a flyout by Brown. Murraywould single through the right side to score Lightel.

The Yellow Jackets would push three more runs across the plate in the bottom of fourth inning to extend their lead to 4-0. Senior pitcher Sarah Baker (Mentor/Lake Catholic) would lead off the inning with a single through the left side. Feciuch would hit her second home run of the season over the left field fence to score Baker. Senior second baseman Katie Finley (Vermilion) would follow with a solo shot to left field for her first homer of the season. Sophomore center fielder Nikki Peskura (Strongsville) would collect her first career hit as she singled through the left side.

B-W would close out the scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning as it scored one more run making the score 5-0. Freshman left fielder Mackenzie Brua (Avon) would reach base after being hit by a pitch and would advance to second on the walk by Brown. Carabin would once again come in to pinch run for Brown. Murray would single to right field and Brua and Carabin would each move up a base. Brua would score the game's final run on a sacrifice fly by Mullen.

The Yellow Jacket offense was led by Murray and Baker who each went 2-for-4 while Murray added an RBI. Feciuch was 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI and Finley was 1-for-3 with a home run and RBI.

On the mound, Baker recorded her 42nd career victory and now has a record of 5-1 on the season with three complete game shutouts. She pitched seven scoreless innings with four strikeouts and one walk. With her four strikeouts, Baker moved into fifth place on the all-time strikeouts list with 193.

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.

Baldwin Wallace Athletics

Softball

Jackets Split Doubleheader in Home-Opener