TUCSON, ARIZ. – Junior All-Ohio Athletic Conference pitcher Tabitha Murray (Mogadore/Field) tied a career-record with 11 strikeouts as the Baldwin Wallace University softball team opened the 2013 season by shutting out Dickinson (Pa.) College by a final score of 2-0 in the first game of the Tucson Invitational Game at the Lincoln Park Softball Complex.
With the win, the Yellow Jackets improved to 1-0 and will next face Edgewood (Wis.) College in the second game of the day. With the loss, the Red Devils fell to 0-3 overall.
BW opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when junior All-OAC third basemen Lauren Feciuch (Kent/Field) doubled to left field. Sophomore All-OAC shortstop Brittany Lightel (Tallmadge) then sacrificed Feciuch over to third base. Feciuch would then score on the single up the middle by Murray.
The Yellow Jackets scored the game's only other run in the bottom of the third inning. Feciuch would lead off the inning when she reached on an error by the left fielder and then went to third on a throwing error by the left fielder. Feciuch would score on a sacrifice fly from Murray.
Dickinson had its best scoring chance in the top of the third inning. After a ground out to start the inning, the Red Devils get back to back singles before another ground out. Dickinson loaded the bases but Murray shut down the threat as she got the Red Devils to ground out to end the inning.
Offensively, BW was led by senior right fielder Alyssa Brown (Hudson) as she went 2-for-3. Feciuch, Lightel and Murray each added a hit while Murray recorded two runs batted in and Feciuch scored two runs.
On the mound, Murray pitched all seven innings and allowed four hits with the 11 strikeouts and just two walks. She threw 121 pitches with 85 being strikes.
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.
