TUCSON, ARIZ. – Freshman second baseman Alison Fiorucci (Seven Hills/Holy Name) knocked in the game winning run in bottom of seventh inning as the Baldwin Wallace University softball team rallied to defeat Alfred (N.Y.) University this afternoon University by a final score of 4-3 at the Tucson Invitational Games at the Lincoln Park Softball Complex.
With the victory, the Yellow Jackets improved to 3-1 overall and will play six more game in Arizona. With the loss, the Saxons dropped their first game of the season and now are 0-1.
Alfred jumped out to an early 2-0 lead when it scored a run in the top of both the second and third innings.
BW would plate two runs to even the score in the bottom of the fourth. Fiorucci singled to right field. Junior leftfielder Nikki Peskura (Strongsville) singled and Fiorucci went to third on the throw. Junior catcher Sami Brown (Kent/Field) cleared the bases with a two out double to left center.
The Saxons regained the lead in the top of the fifth inning but would be unable to score the rest of the fame.
The Yellow Jackets would once again tie the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when junior All-Ohio Athletic Conference player Tabitha Murray (Mogadore/Field) singled. Murray would advance on a ground out and scored on a single up the middle from junior first baseman Kaity Mullen (Avon).
BW brought home the victory in the bottom of the seventh when sophomore All-OAC shortstop Brittany Lightel (Tallmadge) led off the inning with a walk. After a fly out, senior rightfielder Alyssa Brown (Hudson) doubled to right center field and Lightel advanced to third. After Mullen was intentionally walked to load the bases, Fiorucci stepped to the plate and delivered the game winning single up the middle.
The Yellow Jackets offense exploded for 10 hits led by Fiorucci, who went 2-for-3 with the game winning run batted in. Alyssa Brown and Murray each went 2-for-4 with their second double of the season. Sami Brown was 1-for-2 with a double and two RBI while freshman centerfielder Jessica Chidsey (West Salem/Black River), Mullen and Peskura each added a hit. Mullen was 1-for-3 with an RBI, Peskura was 1-for-1 with a run scored and Chidsey was 1-for-3.
On the mound, BW utilized two pitchers in sophomore Lauren Mims (Wellington) and Murray. Mims started her second career game at BW and pitched in three innings. She allowed two runs on three hits with a strikeout and walk. Murray came in relief and picked up her third win of the season. She pitched four innings and allowed one unearned run on two hits with six strike outs and one walk.
The Yellow Jackets continues their play at the Tucson Invitational on Tuesday, March 12 when they play a pair of games against Southwestern (Texas) University and Chatham (Pa.) University. The game against Southwestern will begin at 2:00 p.m. with the Chatham game to follow at 4:30 p.m.
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.
