BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University softball team was swept in an Ohio Athletic Conference doubleheader at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds Field. The Cardinals (9-13, 5-3 OAC) came back to win the first game, 3-2, and captured the nightcap, 12-9.
In the first game, BW (7-15, 0-8 OAC) grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Otterbein tied the game at 2-2 with two runs in the top of the sixth inning and won it with another in the seventh.
At the plate, freshman shortstop Alicia Hack (Pickerington/North) led the way by going 2-for-3 with the run scored. On the mound, sophomore Erica Morgan (Brook Park/ Midpark) pitched all seven innings, allowed eight base hits and three runs (all earned), struck out four Otterbein batters and did not allow a walk.
In the second game. Otterbein led 3-1 after one inning and 4-1 after the top of the second. BW erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the second for an 8-4 lead before Otterbein tied it at 8-8 with three more in the third and another in the fourth. Otterbein took a 12-8 lead with four runs in the fifth and BW countered with one in the bottom of the fifth to trail 12-9.
At the plate, senior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC second baseman Brittany Lightel (Tallmadge) led the way as she was 2-for-5 with her first career grand slam, a double, a run scored and a career-high six runs bated-in (RBIs). Sophomore left fielder Mackenzie Nelsen (Powell/Dublin Scioto) was 3-for-4 with a run scsored and an RBI.
In addition, five other players each had two hits, including Hack, sophomore DJ Rogers (Warren/ Champion), senior Mackenzie Brua (Avon), sophomore Alex Miller (Akron/ Coventry) and sophomore Samantha Dostal (Oberlin/Firelands). One of Miller's hits was her first career homer.
On the mound, Dostal started and pitched the first two and two-third innings and received a no-decision. She allowed nine base hits, seven runs (all earned) and struck out one Cardinal batter. Morgan followed her to the mound and and pitched the final four and one-third innings, allowed five hits, five runs (four earned), struck oput four and walked two. She also received the loss to fall to 3-8 this season.
The BW is back in action on Wednesday, April 8 when it travels cross-town to University Heights to play John Carroll University in an OAC doubleheader at 3 p.m. On Thursday, April 9, BW is at Hiram College for a non-conference doubleheader at 3:30 p.m. The next home twinbill is this Saturday, April 11 when BW hosts Wilmington College at 1 p.m.
