BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University softball team split a rescheduled Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader versus Cleveland cross-town rival John Carroll University at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds Field. The games were originally scheduled for April 9 but were postponed until today.
BW (13-12, 7-3 OAC) lost the first game by a final score of 7-5 and scored the final four runs, including a walk off homerun in the eighth inning, to beat John Carroll (11-11, 5-5 OAC) by a score of 6-5 in the nightcap.
In game one, BW offense scored five runs on eight hits as opened the scoring when junior first baseman Mackenzie Brua (Avon) led off the bottom half of the first inning with a homerun to tie the game at 1-1. Brua also plated three more Yellow Jacket runs with a three-run double in the second to give BW a 4-1 lead. The Blue Streaks scored six times in the top of the third to take a 7-4 lead before the Yellow Jackets ended the scoring with a run the fifth.
Brua led the BW offensive attack as she went 2-for-3 with a homerun, double and a career-high four runs batted-in (RBI.) Senior All-OAC designated player Nikki Peskura (Strongsville) went 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored. Senior All-OAC pitcher Tabitha Murray (Mogadore/Field) also had two base knocks as she went 2-for-4 with a double.
On the mound, Murray got the start and took the loss as she allowed all seven runs (three earned) on three hits in two and a third innings pitched. She also had two strikeouts and three walks. Freshman Samantha Dostall (Oberlin/Firelands) pitched the next 3.2 innings and did not allow a run on three hits with two strikeouts. Freshman Darcy Daniel (Sandusky/Perkins) pitched a scoreless seventh inning as she retired the John Carroll lineup in order.
In game two, the Yellow Jackets scored six runs on eight hits as they led off the game with Brua homerun, added a run in the fourth, two runs in the fifth on a Murray homerun, one in the seventh on a Murray RBI triple and the game-winner and walk off homer by freshman centerfielder Sydney Kimball (Brecksville/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) in the bottom of the eighth. The Blue Streaks scored five runs on six hits at it plated four runs in the third and one in the fifth.
Murray led the BW offensive attack as she went 3-for-4 with a homerun, triple, run scored and three RBI. Brua was again 2-for-3 with her sixth homerun, three runs scored, and one RBI. Kimball was 1-for-4 with her second career homer, run scored and a RBI. Freshman third baseman DJ Rogers (Warren/Champion) was 1-for-2 with her second career homerun, walk, run scored and RBI
On the mound, freshman Erica Morgan (Brook Park/Midpark) recorded her team-best sixth win of the season as she pitched a career-high eight innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits with a career-best six strikeouts and five walks.
The Yellow Jackets are back in action tomorrow (Saturday, April 12) when they travel to Wilmington to play the Quakers of Wilmington College in an OAC doubleheader at 1 p.m. The next homes games are scheduled for Tuesday, April 15 when BW hosts OAC Ohio Northern University in an OAC doubleheader 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.
