CLEVELAND – In its first road games of the 2019 season, the Baldwin Wallace University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with crosstown rival Case Western Reserve University at Mather Park.
BW (12-2), who snapped a three-game losing skid against Case Western Reserve (5-5) but suffered its first loss to a Division III opponent, played its first extra inning affair of the 2019 campaign and came away with an eight-inning 5-4 victory in the opener. The Spartans took the night cap with a 14-4 victory in five innings.
In game one, the Yellow Jackets scored five runs on eight hits as they plated one run in the third, two runs in the fourth on back-to-back homeruns from freshman designated player Ashley Matousek (Sagamore Hills/Akron Archbishop Hoban) and sophomore first baseman Mackenzie Milligan (Cleveland/St. Joseph Academy), one in the fifth and scored the game-winning run on the run batted-in (RBI) single by junior second baseman Alex Kozich (Avon). Case Western Reserve scored four runs on 13 hits as it pushed one run across the plate in the first, two in the fourth and one in the fifth.
The BW offense was led by senior All-Ohio Athletic Conference and Academic All-OAC right fielder Alexis Boledovic (Brook Park/Berea-Midpark), Kozich and Milligan as the trio all went 2-for-4. Milligan had her second collegiate homerun with an RBI while Kozich added an RBI. Matousek provided the other extra base knock with an RBI as she went 1-for-4.
In the circle, freshman right hander Nikki Camarati (Brunswick/Holy Name) earned her sixth win of the season as she allowed four runs (three earned) on 13 hits with four strikeouts and three walks in a career-high eight innings pitched.
In game two, the Yellow Jackets scored four runs on 10 hits as they plated two runs in the third inning off the second homer of the day for Milligan and two in the fifth. The Spartans scored 14 runs on 11 hits as they pushed one run across the plated in the second, eight in the third and five in the fourth.
BW was led by senior All-OAC shortstop Erica English (North Olmsted), Kozich, Matousek and freshman third baseman Kami Helm (Uniontown/Green) all went 2-for-3. Kozich had an RBI. Three other Yellow Jacket hitters had a base knock led by Milligan with a homer and two RBIs.
In the circle, sophomore All-OAC left hander Abby Cosart (Lima/Bath) suffered her first loss of the season as she allowed eight runs (seven earned) on five hits with one strikeout and two walks in 2.1 innings. Freshman righty Hannah Welling (Ravenna) pitched the final 1.2 innings and allowed six runs (two earned) on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
BW is back in action on Saturday, March 23 when it travels to Marietta to open up OAC action with a doubleheader against Marietta College at 1 p.m. The Yellow Jackets remain on the road on Sunday, March 24 when they travel to Wooster for a non-conference doubleheader against The College of Wooster at 1 p.m.
