TUCSON, Ariz. – The Baldwin Wallace University softball team swept its final six games at the annual Tucson Invitational Games as it shut out its final two opponents on the fifth and final day of competition at Lincoln Park.
BW (9-1) was a perfect 7-0 against NCAA Division III opponents and posted a 2-1 record against NAIA opponents, including a shutout victory over a top-10 foe. The 9-1 record is the best start to a season and the best showing in Arizona since the 2013 season when the Yellow Jackets went 7-3 in the Grand Canyon State.
BW opened its final day of play with a 3-0 victory over Cornell College (Iowa), who was a 2018 NCAA Division III National Tournament participant. The Yellow Jackets concluded their third straight doubleheader sweep and fourth of the week as they blanked Millikin (Ill.) University by a final score of 2-0.
In game one, BW scored three runs on five hits as it scored two runs in the fifth inning and an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Cornell did not cross the plate and had four hits.
BW was led by senior All-Ohio Athletic Conference and Academic All-OAC right fielder Alexis Boledovic (Brook Park/Berea-Midpark) as she went 3-for-4 as she scored the second run of the game on a wild pitch in the fifth inning. Sophomore first baseman Mackenzie Milligan (Cleveland/St. Joseph Academy) and freshman designated player Ashley Matousek (Sagamore Hills/Akron Archbishop Hoban) provide the other two base knocks. Senior All-OAC shortstop Erica English (North Olmsted) and senior catcher Sami Minor (North Royalton) each provided a run batted-in (RBI) on sacrifice hits.
In the circle, freshman right hander Nikki Camarati (Brunswick/Holy Name) picked up her second straight career shutout and third win of the season (3-1) as she did not allow a run on four hits with a career-high tying 10 strikeouts and three walks.
In game two, the Yellow Jackets scored two runs on five hits as they plated one run in the first and second innings. Millikin was held scoreless on four hits.
The BW offensive attack was led by Boledovic as she went 2-for-3 with an RBI, stolen base and run scored. Minor, junior Academic All-OAC second baseman Alex Kozich (Avon) and Matousek each had a base hit. Matousek pushed in the Yellow Jackets first run of the game.
In the circle, sophomore All-OAC left hander Abby Cosart (Lima/Bath) notched her fourth career shutout and second of the week as well as her team-leading fourth victory (4-0). Cosart did not allow a run on four hits with a career-best eight strikeouts and a career-low zero walks.
BW is back in action on Saturday, March 16 when it travels to Hiram for a non-conference doubleheader against Hiram College at 1 p.m. The Yellow Jackets open OAC play on Saturday, March 23 when they travel to Marietta to take on Marietta College at 1 p.m.
