Sarah Baker Becomes All-Time Wins Leader

Posted: Mar 26, 2012

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA -- Senior pitcher Sarah Baker (Mentor/Lake Catholic) became the all-time wins leader in school history with 41 victories as the Baldwin-Wallace College softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader today (Monday, March 26, 2012) against Chatham University. The Yellow Jackets, who played their fourth of 10 games this week, won by scores of 10-0 in five innings and 3-2 in seven innings.

With the sweep, B-W improved to 10-6 overall while Chatham fell to 8-8 overall.

Baker, who won the second game of the doubleheader, now has a career mark of 41-24 and is now 4-1 on the season. She also ranks fourth all-time in innings pitched with 405 and complete games with 46 and is sixth in career strikeouts with 189.

"I feel lucky to achieve this honor," said Baker. "I could not have achieved this record without all of my great teammates over the years. Without their excellent defense behind me as well as the offense they provided I would not be here today."

"I am happy and excited for Sarah to become the all-time wins leader," said Head Coach Tom Spencer. "She is and has been an important part of the turnaround in the softball program at B-W."

In game one, the Yellow Jacket offense exploded for 10 runs on 15 hits as10 different B-W batters recorded at least one base hit. Sophomore pitcher Tabitha Murray (Mogadore/Field) led the offensive attack as she went 3-for-3 with two doubles and two runs batted-in. Freshman right fielder Mackenzie Brua (Avon) went 2-for-3 with her first career double and a career-best two RBI. Freshman shortstop Brittany Lightel (Tallmadge) went 2-for-3 with a run scored and Baker was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI. Senior second baseman Katie Finley (Vermilion) went 1-for-3 with two RBI and sophomores Lauren Feciuch (Kent/Field) and Kaity Mullen (Avon Lake) each went 1-for-3 with an RBI.

On the mound, Murray picked up her fourth win of the season and second career shutout. She pitched five innings and allowed just one hit with six strikeouts and no walks.

In game two, the Cougars jumped out to a 2-0 lead on two doubles. The Yellow Jackets cut the lead down to 2-1 in the top of the third inning on walks by Lightel and junior right fielder Alyssa Brown (Hudson). Murray drove in Lightel on a two out base hit to left field.

B-W took the lead, 3-2, in the top of the fifth inning when Baker hit the game-winning a two-run homerun. Lightel, who led the inning off with a double, scored on Baker's first homer of the season. The homerun marked Baker's 100career hit as well as her third career long ball.

Offensively, the Yellow Jackets were led by Baker, who collected two of the five Yellow Jacket hits, went 2-for-4 with a homerun and two RBI. Finley, Lightel and Murray collected one bask knock each and Murray accounted for the other RBI in the game.

On the mound, Baker pitched seven innings to record her fourth win of the season. She allowed two runs on three hits with four strikeouts and one walk.

The Yellow Jackets play their home opener on Wednesday, March 28 when it will welcome Geneva (Pa.) College to the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds Field for a non-conference doubleheader at 3:30 p.m. B-W remains at home and plays 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