NEW CONCORD, Ohio – Baldwin Wallace University softball freshman Nikki Camarati (North Royalton) set the school-record for wins in a season with 20 as the third-seeded Yellow Jackets won its opening game and had their second game of Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament suspended due to rain. The tournament is being hosted by Muskingum University at the Donna Newberry Field.
BW (33-8) won the first game of the tournament over second-seeded Ohio Northern University (21-18) by a final score 6-1. The Yellow Jackets and fourth-seeded Otterbein University (22-15), who knocked off top-seeded Muskingum in game two, reached the top of the fourth inning with the Cardinals leading 1-0 before the game and the rest of day one action was suspended due to rain and field conditions.
In the only game of the day, BW scored six runs on 11 hits as it plated three runs in the first, one in the second, one in the third and one in the seventh on the solo blast from senior catcher Sami Minor (North Royalton). Ohio Northern scored one run on three hits as it pushed its lone across the plate in the fourth inning.
The Yellow Jacket offense was led by sophomore first baseman Mackenzie Milligan (Cleveland/St. Joseph Academy) as she went 3-for-4. Senior All-OAC short stop Erica English (North Olmsted was 2-for-4 with a double, run batted-in (RBI). Senior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC right fielder Alexis Boledovic (Brook Park/Berea-Midpark) went 2-for-4 with a double and run scored. Junior center fielder Macy Leach (Westerville/Central) was 2-for-2 with an RBI. Minor and freshman third baseman Kami Helm (Uniontown/Green) added the other base knocks. Minor had a homer, RBI and two runs scored.
In the circle, Camarati improved to 20-4 as she allowed one run on three hits with 11 strikeouts and five walks.
BW and Otterbein will resume its game on Saturday, May 4 at 10 a.m. with the start of the fourth inning. Muskingum and Ohio Northern will play its elimination game at 11:30 a.m. The loser of the BW and Otterbein game will face the winner of the Muskingum and Ohio Northern game in an elimination game at 1:30 p.m. The championship game will be contested at 3:30 p.m. with an if necessary game to be played on Sunday, May 5 at 12 noon.
