TUCSON, Ariz. – The Baldwin Wallace University softball team scored 43 runs in a season-opening doubleheader sweep of North Central (Minn.) University to open play at the annual Tucson Invitational Games at Lincoln Park.
BW (2-0) opened the 2019 campaign by scoring 43 runs in nine innings on 38 hits, including 14 extra base knocks. The Yellow Jackets pounded out six doubles, seven triples and one homerun. The BW defense allowed just three runs on six hits with only one extra base knock.
In game one the Yellow Jackets scored 16 runs on 18 hits as they plated three runs in the first and second innings, exploded for eight runs in the third inning and added two more in the fourth. North Central scored three runs on four hits as it scored all three runs in the fifth inning.
The BW offense was led by senior catcher Sami Minor (North Royalton) as she went 3-for-3 with a double, three runs batted-in (RBIs) and three runs scored. Freshman third baseman Kami Helm (Uniontown/Green) was 2-for-2 with her first collegiate triple, two RBIs and two runs scored. Freshman designated played Ashley Matousek (Sagamore Hills/Akron Archbishop Hoban) went 2-for-2 with her first collegiate triple and two runs scored. Senior All-Ohio Athletic Conference and Academic All-OAC right fielder Alexis Boledovic (Brook Park/Berea-Midpark) was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and three runs scored. Nine other Yellow Jackets recorded a base hit, including three extra base knocks, and four RBIs.
In the circle, freshman right hander Nikki Camarati (Brunswick/Holy Name) recorded her first collegiate win as she did not allow a run on zero hits with 10 strikeouts and one walk in four innings of action. Freshman righty Hannah Welling (Ravenna) pitched one inning and allowed three runs on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
In game two, BW scored 27 runs on 20 hits. 18 Yellow Jacket hitters came to the plate and erupted for 14 runs in the first inning sparked by triples from Boledovic and senior All-OAC shortstop Erica English (North Olmsted) and a bomb from sophomore first baseman Mackenzie Milligan (Cleveland/St. Joseph Academy). BW tacked on six runs in the second inning and seven more in the fourth.
The Yellow Jacket offense was led by Boledovic as she went 3-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and three runs scored. Junior center fielder Macy Leach (Westerville/Central) was 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Minor was 2-for-2 with a double, three runs scored and an RBI. Junior Academic All-OAC second baseman Alex Kozich (Avon) was 2-for-3 with a triple, four RBIS and two runs scored. English went 2-for-3 with a triple, three RBIs and two runs scored. Milligan was 2-for-3 with a homerun, three RBIs and two runs scored. Seven other BW hitters tallied a base knock with eight RBIs and one extra base hit.
In the circle, sophomore All-OAC left hander Abby Cosart (Lima/Bath) picked up the victory as she did not allow a run on one hit with three strikeouts and one walk in three innings of action. Junior righty Nikki Turner (Hudson) did not allow a run or hit with three strikeouts and two walks in one inning. Sophomore right hander Makenzie Storts (London/Licking Heights) did not allow a run on one hit with her first collegiate strikeout in one inning of action.
The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Tuesday, March 5 when they continue play at the Tucson Invitational games with single contests against NAIA opponents Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) University and Madonna (Mich.) University at 11:00 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.
