BEREA, OHIO – The Baldwin Wallace University softball team dropped a non-conference doubleheader to Bethany (W. Va.) College by final scores of 3-2 and 2-0 at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds Field.
With the losses, the Yellow Jackets fell to 13-7 overall and suffered just its second shutout loss of the season. With the sweep, the Bisons improved to 14-10 overall and have won four straight.
In the first game, the Yellow Jackets took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when junior All-Ohio Athletic Conference player Tabitha Murray (Mogadore/Field) smacked her team leading third home run of the season over the left field fence. BW added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when junior first baseman Kaity Mullen (Avon Lake), sophomore All-OAC shortstop Brittany Lightel (Tallmadge) and freshman second baseman Alison Fiorucci (Seven Hills/Holy Name) all had two out singles to score the second and final run of the game. Bethany would secure the win as it scored three unanswered runs in the top of the sixth inning.
The Yellow Jacket offense scored their two runs on six hits as six players all had one hit. On the mound, Murray suffered just her fifth loss of the season as she pitched all seven innings and allowed three runs on eight hits with nine strikeouts and no walks.
In the nightcap, the Bisons scored a run in the top of the first inning and one in the top of the fifth to secure the 2-0 victory.
Despite the loss, sophomore Mackenzie Brua (Avon), who made saw her first starts of the season at first base, had two of BW's three hits as she went 2-for-2. The two hits tied a career-high for Brua. On the bump, junior Nikki Peskura (Strongsville) made her second career start and suffered the loss. Peskura allowed the two runs on nine hits with two strikeouts and four walks.
The Yellow Jackets close out a four doubleheader homestand tomorrow (April 9) when they host Capital University in an OAC doubleheader at 3:00 p.m. Fans can follow all of the action live via live stats at http://livestats.prestosports.com/baldwinwallace. BW then travels to Wilmington to take on the Quakers of Wilmington College in an OAC doubleheader on Saturday, April 13 at 1:00 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.
