ALLIANCE, Ohio – After rain forced the cancellation of opening day, the Baldwin Wallace University softball team advanced to Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament championship series for the second straight season as it won a pair of games on the 23rd Street Field on the campus of host and top-seed the University of Mount Union.

In the first game, BW (24-14), who is the third seed, defeated Muskingum (27-12), who is the second seed, by a final score of 6-2 in nine innings.  In game two, the Yellow Jackets rallied to defeat Ohio Northern University (23-19), who is the fourth seed, by a final score of 9-5 in eight innings.

Against the Fighting Muskies, BW scored six runs on a season-high tying 14 hits as it plated one run in the third and five in the ninth, including three off the first collegiate homerun by freshman third baseman Mia Maddamma (North Royalton).  Muskingum scored two runs on five hits as it pushed one run across the plate in the second and one in the ninth.

At the Plate

• Maddamma (North Royalton) went 3-for-4 with a homer, two runs scored a career-best three runs batted-in (RBIs)
• Sophomore shortstop Lucia Wolford (McDonald) went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs
• Senior All-OAC catcher Bridie Bricker (Brook Park/Berea-Midpark) went 2-for-5 with an RBI

In the Circle

• Junior right hander Marisa Hall (Paris/East Canton) earned the victory as she allowed two runs on five hits with three strikeouts and eight walks, including two intentional walks

Against the Polar Bears, the Yellow Jackets scored nine runs on 11 hits as they plated three runs in the first, one in the fifth, one in the seventh and four in the eighth.  Ohio Northern scored five runs on 10 hits as it pushed three runs across the plate in the third and two in the fifth.

At the Plate

• Sophomore first baseman Gillian Ryser (Hubbard) went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBIs and a stolen base
• Senior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC second baseman Emily Mau (Broadview Heights/Brecksville-Broadview Heights) went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and walk
• Sophomore designated hitter/right-handed pitcher Maddie Lester (Boardman) went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs
• Wolford went 2-for-4 with a run scored and RBI

In the Circle

• Hall started the game and got the no decision as she allowed five runs on nine hits with one strikeout and two walks in six innings pitched
• Lester earned the win as she allowed no runs on one hit with two strikeouts and two walks in the final two innings.

The Yellow Jackets will be back in action on Saturday, May 11 when they will play in the first game of the OAC Tournament championship series at 2 p.m.