TUCSON, ARIZ. – Junior All-Ohio Athletic Conference player Tabitha Murray (Mogadore/Field) pitched back-to-back perfect games as the Baldwin Wallace University softball team shut out Sul Ross State (Texas) University and Edgewood (Wis.) College today (Wednesday, March 13, 2013) by a final scores of 8-0 in six innings and 10-0 in five innings at the Tucson Invitational Games at the Lincoln Park Softball Complex.
The back-to-back-perfect games by Murray was the first time a pitcher has achieved this feat at any level of collegiate softball.
With the pair of victories, the Yellow Jackets improved to 6-2 overall and have won three straight games. The Lobos dropped to 5-8 overall and the Eagles are now 2-11 overall.
Murray has retired the last 34 batters with 14 strikeouts. She is 6-2 overall with a 0.87 earned run average and has allowed 18 base hits in 40 and one-third innings pitched with 50 strikeouts and nine walks. Additionally, she also leads the BW offense, batting .500 (12-for-24) with four runs scored, four doubles and eight RBI.
Against Sul Ross, the Yellow Jackets offense pounded out eight runs on 12 hits with eight runs batted-in. Sophomore All-OAC shortstop Brittany Lightel (Tallmadge) went 2-for-3 with a triple, run scored and three RBI to lead the attack. Senior right fielder Ashley Elber (Huron/Edison), Murray, junior first baseman Kaity Mullen (Avon Lake) and freshman centerfielder Jessica Chidsey (West Salem/Black River) all had two hits. Murray, Mullen and Chidsey all added an RBI.
On the mound, Murray retired all 18 batters she faced while fanning six Sul Ross hitters.
Against Edgewood, the BW offense scored in double figures for the second time in three games with 10 runs on eight hits with 5 RBI. Murray helped her own cause, going 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI. Junior All-OAC third baseman Lauren Feciuch (Kent/Field), junior leftfielder Nikki Peskura (Strongsville), Mullen, Lightel, sophomore pinch hitter Jenna Sammon (Hinckley/Medina Highland) and freshman second baseman Alison Fiorucci (Seven Hills/Holy Name) all had one hit. Fiorucci added two RBI and Peskura had one.
On the mound, Murray faced and retired all 15 batters she faced and fanned seven Edgewood hitters.
The Yellow Jackets conclude play at the Tucson Invitational Games on Thursday, March 14 when they face Trinity (Texas) University and Marian (Wis.) University. The Trinity game is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. with the Marian 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.
