TUCSON, ARIZ. – Junior All-Ohio Athletic Conference third basemen Lauren Feciuch (Kent/Field) hit a three-run home run as the Baldwin Wallace University softball team rallied to defeat Edgewood (Wis.) College by a final score of 8-5 in its second game of the Tucson Invitational Games at the Lincoln Park Softball Complex.
With the win, the Yellow Jackets, who will play a total of 10 games in Arizona, improved to 2-0 after defeating Dickinson (Pa.) College earlier today by a final score of 2-0. With the loss, the Eagles fell to 2-5 overall.
Edgewood jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning before the Yellow Jackets would score eight unanswered runs.
In the top of the third inning BW would take the lead that it would never relinquish. Junior leftfielder/pitcher Nikki Peskura (Strongsville) and freshman centerfielder Jessica Chidsey (West Salem /Black River) led off the inning with back-to-back walks. Feciuch cleared the bases with a three-run home run over the left field fence. It was the first home run and first runs batted in of the season for Feciuch.
The Yellow Jackets would extend their lead when they put up five more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Freshman second baseman Alison Fiorucci (Seven Hills /Holy Name) led off the inning with a double to left field. Fiorucci would score on the RBI single through the left side by Peskura but she was then thrown out at second base. Chidsey would single but would be forced out at second base on Feciuch's fielder's choice. Feciuch would then steal second base. Feciuch advanced to third on a single by sophomore All-OAC shortstop Brittany Lightel (Tallmadge). Feciuch and Lightel would score on the RBI double from junior All-OAC player Tabitha Murray (Mogadore/Field). Senior right fielder Alyssa Brown (Hudson) would reach on an error and Murray would score. Sophomore Jenna Sammon (Hinckley/Medina Highland) would pinch run for Brown and would score on the RBI double by junior first baseman Kaity Mullen (Avon Lake).
The Eagles would add four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to close out the scoring.
Offensively, BW scored eight runs on 10 hits led by Feciuch who went 2-for-4 with a homerun and three RBI. Brown, Chidsey, Elber, Fiorucci, Lightel, Mullen, Murray and Peskura each had one hit. Murray added two RBI while Mullen and Peskura each contributed one RBI.
On the mound, the Yellow Jackets utilized three pitchers. Sophomore Lauren Mims (Wellington) started her first career game at BW. She pitched in four innings and allowed five runs, two of which were earned, with one strikeout and no walks. Murray, who picked up the victory, pitched one and two thirds innings and allowed no runs with two strikeouts and no walks. Peskura saw action in one and a third innings and allowed no runs on one hit with one walk.
BW continues its play at the Tucson Invitational on Monday, March 11 when it plays a pair of games against Texas Lutheran University and Alfred (N.Y.) University. The game against Texas Lutheran will begin at 12:00 p.m. with the Alfred game to follow at 2:00 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.
