ALLIANCE, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University softball team opened up Ohio Athletic Conference play by splitting a pair of games with the University of Mount Union on the 23rd Street Field.
The Yellow Jackets (6-8, 1-1 OAC), who has won four of the last six meetings, won the first game by a final score of 7-6. The seven runs scored were the second most on the season and the most since the first game of the year. The Purple Raiders (13-9, 1-1 OAC) won the second game by a final score of 12-6.
In game one, BW scored seven runs on nine hits as it plated one run in the first, two in the third and four in the fourth. Mount Union scored six runs on 10 hits as it pushed one runs across the plate in the first, added two runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh.
The Yellow Jacket offense was sparked by freshman third baseman Paige Loveless (Mechanicsburg) as she went 3-for-4 with a career-best two doubles and a career-best four runs-batted in (RBIs). Six other BW batters had a base knock. Junior All-OAC second baseman DJ Rogers (Warren/Champion) and sophomore left fielder Lena Kortis (Massillon/Perry) each had an extra base hit with a double while Kortis added a career-high tying two RBIs.
In the circle, junior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC pitcher Erica Morgan (Brook Park/Midpark) picked up her third win of the season as she pitched seven innings and allowed six runs (five earned) on 10 hits with two strikeouts.
In game two, BW scored six runs on six hits as it plated three runs in the first, two runs in the fourth and one in the seventh. The Purple Raiders scored 12 runs on 10 hits and pushed three runs across the plate in the third, sixth in the fifth and three in the sixth.
The Yellow Jacket offense was led by freshman shortstop Erica English (North Olmsted) as she went 2-for 4 with an RBI. Four other BW hitters had a base hit. Junior right fielder Mackenzie Nelsen (Powell/Dublin Scioto) had her first career triple and had a RBI. Freshman first baseman Alexis Boledovic (Brook Park/Berea-Midpark) had a double and RBI while Kortis and sophomore designated hitter Sierra Bennett (Tallmadge) each had a RBI.
In the circle, junior pitcher Samantha Dostall (Oberlin/Firelands) took the loss as she pitched four and two-thirds innings and allowed eight runs (three earned)on eight hits with one strikeout. Junior Christine Lyzen (Columbia Station/Columbia) made her second relief appearance of the season as she pitched one and a third innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits.
BW is back in action on Wednesday, March 30 when it plays its home opener as it hosts a non-conference doubleheader against Hiram College on the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds Field at 3:30 p.m.
