TUCSON, Ariz. – The Baldwin Wallace University softball team opened the 2015 season and play at the Tucson Invitational games with a doubleheader loss to Southwestern (Texas) University at Lincoln Park.
BW (0-2) opened the season with an 8-3 defeat to Southwestern (3-9) and then dropped the nightcap to the Pirates by a score of 6-3.
In game one, the Yellow Jackets scored three runs on 10 hits. BW scored all three runs in the final two innings including a two run with two outs in the seventh inning. The Yellow Jackets scored three more runs on six hits in the nightcap. BW cut the lead down to 3-2 in the top of the fourth before Southwestern scored three runs in the fifth and sixth innings. The Yellow Jackets tacked on another run in the top of the sixth.
The BW offense was led by freshman left fielder Alicia Hack (Pickerington/North) and junior right fielder Alison Fiorucci (Seven Hills/Holy Name) combined for six hits and two runs batted in. Hack batted 4-for-8, including a 3-for-4 performance in her collegiate debut. Fiorucci was a combined 2-for4 with two RBIs.
In the circle, sophomore pitchers Erica Morgan (Brook Park/Midpark) appeared in both games. Morgan suffered the loss in the first game after allowing two runs on six hits in four innings pitched with a season-best six strikeouts. She then came in relief in the second game and allowed two runs on three hits in 1.1 innings pitched.
In addition, sophomores Darcy Daniel (Sandusky/Perkins), Samantha Dostall (Oberlin/Firelands) and Mackenzie Nelsen (Powell / Dublin Scioto) all saw action in one game each. Dostall suffered the loss in game two after allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on seven hits with one strikeout. Nelsen made her collegiate debut in the circle as she pitched one inning of relief action in game one and recorded her first career strikeout. Daniel pitched two innings of relief in game one.
The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Monday, March 9 when it plays a pair of non-conference games against Cedar Crest (Pa.) College and Alfred (N.Y.) University on the second day of the Tucson Invitational. The game against Cedar Crest is scheduled for 1 p.m. with the Alfred game slated for a 3 p.m. start.
