HIRAM, OHIO – The Baldwin Wallace University softball team exploded for eight runs in the first inning and defeated Hiram College, 12-6, in the second game of a non-conference doubleheader at Myrtis E. Herndon Field. The Yellow Jackets rapped out 12 hits, including 10 singles.
The win improves BW to 10-4 overall. Hiram drops to 6-12 overall.
BW sent 15 batters to the plate in the top of the first inning and scored eight runs on seven hits, keyed by a pair of two-run doubles from freshman second baseman Alison Fiorucci (Seven Hills/Holy Name) and junior catcher Sami Brown (Kent/Field). Senior designated player Alyssa Brown (Hudson), junior Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference first baseman Kaity Mullen (Avon Lake), and freshman center fielder Jessica Chidsey (West Salem/Black River) also had run batted-in singles.
The Terriers scored in the bottom half of the first on a RBI double by Miranda Wright.
BW extended its lead to 10-1 in the third on a two-run single by Mullen.
Another RBI single by Wright in the bottom of the third closed the gap to 10-2, but the run was negated in the BW fifth after junior Lauren Feciuch (Kent/Field) scored on a sacrifice fly by Alyssa Brown.
Hiram sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fifth and rallied for four runs. After Wright and freshman Jessica Wahl each moved up a base on a wild pitch, sophomore Angela Perella sent a single into left-center field, scoring both runners. A bases loaded walk by sophomore Samantha Hughes and a RBI ground out by freshman Nicole Hoy pulled the Terriers to within 11-6, pushing the game into the sixth inning.
BW added an insurance run in the seventh on a RBI single by junior All-Ohio Athletic Conference right-handed pitcher Tabitha Murray (Mogadore/ Field).
In addition to Mullen, who was 2-for-5 at the plate with three RBI and one run scored, Feciuch was 2-for-3 with two walks and three runs, and junior left fielderNikki Peskura (Strongsville) was 3-for-4 with a walk and one run.
Murray allowed all six Terrier runs (all earned) on seven hits over four and one-third innings, and earned her second win of the day to climb to 9-3. Peskura pitched two and two-thirds innings of relief, allowed one hit, fanned three batters and walked one.
BW will continue a stretch of five doubleheaders in six days when it hosts non-conference foe Lourdes University tomorrow at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds at 3:30 p.m. before hosting the University of Mount Union on Saturday in an OAC doubleheader at 1 p.m. The Yellow Jackets also host Bethany (W.Va.) College on Monday at 3:30 p.m. and OAC rival Capital University on Tuesday at 3 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.
