BELOIT, Wis. - This afternoon the Beloit College Softball team hosted the Pioneers of Carroll University in a midweek non-conference match up. The Buccaneers (8-24, 2-8 MWC) defeated the Pioneers (11-21) 2-1 in game one before falling short in game two, 9-5.
The Buccaneers were out hit in game one, 6-4, but managed to use timely hits and extreme selection at the plate to push their two runs across. With the game still scoreless in the bottom of the third, the Bucs used an error and two singles to load the bases.
Stella Lutes (Riverside, IL) led off the inning by reaching on an error by the second basemen.
Allison Olson (Sandwich, IL) beat out a bunt single to put two runners on. After two quick strikeouts,
Siddalee Meyers (Orfordville, Wis.) singled through the right side to load the bases.
Angela Donath (Wausau, Wis.) drew a bases loaded walk to bring in the first run of the game. Unable to create anymore offense, the Bucs left the bases loaded at the end of the third. The Pioneers tied the game in the top of the fourth.
The Buccaneers plated the game winning run in the bottom of the sixth. Donath was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.
Rachel Overocker (Tinley Park, IL) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Donath into scoring position.
Kaylee Witte (Poplar Grove, IL) drove Donath home with a single to center, Witte was thrown out trying to stretch her single into a double. Carroll came up just short of tying the game in the top of the seventh. A walk and a single put runners on first and third with one out. Down to their final out after a batter was called out when she fouled a ball off herself in fair territory, the runner on third tried to take home after a ball got past Olson behind the plate. Olson was fast enough to tag the runner, ending the game.
Witte pitched the complete game, giving up six hits and striking out just one. She did however, induce 14 ground balls. Her defense behind her was stellar, only committing one error.
In game two, the Pioneers jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three and a half innings. Beloit scored their first run of the game in the bottom half of the third. Donath singled to start the inning before Bri Arteaga pushed her to third with a single down the right field line. Overocker picked up the RBI when Donath scored on her single through the left side. The Bucs were unable to get anything else going, and trailed 4-1 after three innings.
Carroll extended their lead to 7-1 after they batted in the fourth and Beloit didn't have an answer until the bottom of the fifth. Arteaga drew a lead off walk before Witte doubled down the left field line to move both of them into scoring position. Lutes brought the Bucs within three with a three run home run over the left field fence. Olson doubled off the left filed wall but was left stranded at second as the inning ended.
The Pios added two more runs in the top of the sixth, making it a 9-4 game. In the bottom of the sixth, Donath reached on an error and Meyers and Arteaga singled to load the bases once again. Overocker hit a sacrifice fly to center to score the fifth Beloit run of the game but the offense stopped their for the Buccaneers and they fell in game two, 9-5.
Helena Harrison (Chapel Hill, N.C.) and Witte split the load in game two. Harrison pitched the first 3.1 innings, while Witte closed out the final 3.2 innings.
Beloit returns home on Saturday, April 27th to host the Lake Forest College Foresters. First pitch from Strong Complex Softball field is set for 1 pm.
