BELOIT, Wis. - The Beloit College Softball team hosted the Mt. Mary Blue Angels this afternoon in their home opener. After falling in game one, the Buccaneers (3-15, 0-0 MWC) found their rhythm offensively and defeated the Blue Angels (2-17) 9-6 in game two. With the game two win, the Bucs' snapped an eight game losing streak.
Game one:
MMU opened game one by taking a quick 2-0 lead after one half inning. They added four more runs in the top of the second. It wasn't until the bottom of the fourth that the Bucs' plated their first run.
Angela Donath (Wausau, Wis.) led off the inning reaching on an error by the center fielder. Following two straight fly outs, Donath moved over to second on a stolen base and came into score when
Siddalee Meyers (Orfordville, Wis.) reached on an error by the second basemen.
The Blue Angels answered with three more runs in the top of the fifth. Facing an eight run deficit, Beloit began to dig back in the bottom of the fifth.
Stella Lutes (Riverside, IL) started the rally with a single up the middle.
Lylah Murrah (North Pole, AK) reached on an error by the shortstop, moving Lutes to second.
Jocelyn Jordan (Beloit, Wis.) loaded the bases with a single to left field. Donath hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Lutes from third.
Rachel Overocker (Tinley Park, IL) reached on the second MMU error of the inning, scoring Murrah in the process.
Down to their final three outs, the Bucs began clawing back. With one out, Murrah doubled to right center and came around to score on a Jordan double down the right field line.
Paloma Reyes (Beloit, Wis.) came in to pinch run for Jordan, and scored when Donath reached on an error by the shortstop. With two outs,
Briana Arteaga (Covina, Calif.) came into pinch hit for Meyers. She reached on an error by the second basemen. Overocker stepped up big, launching her first career collegiate home run, a two-run bomb to left field. The Buccaneers' comeback came up just short, falling in game one 7-9.
Murrah, Jordan and Overocker all went 2 for 4 in game one. Murrah adding a stolen base.
Game two:
Just like game one, the Blue Angels jumped out to a 4-0 lead after an inning and a half. The Bucs answered in the bottom of the second with four runs of their own.
Kaylee Witte led off the inning with a double to center field. In her first at bat of the day,
Isabel Johnson (Austin, Texas) singled down the left field line, moving Witte to third. Meyers kept the rally going, with a single up with middle scoring Witte. Reyes reached first on an error by the pitcher, that scored Johnson. Murrah laid down a bunt single that scored Meyers, bringing the score to 4-3. Beloit's fourth run came around in the form of Reyes via a Donath RBI single. The Buccaneers' took the lead for the first time when Overocker grounded out to the shortstop, scoring Murrah.
In the bottom of the third, Beloit extended their lead to four. After a line out from Witte, Johnson reached on an error and moved over to second in the process. Meyers singled and stole second, putting runners on second and third. Reyes laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored Johnson from third. Murrah continued her productive day with a single up the middle, collecting another RBI when Meyers scored. Murrah quickly moved over with a stolen base. Arteaga singled up the middle that scored Murrah.
The Blue Angels pulled within two in the top of the fourth bringing the score to 6-8. The Bucs wrapped up the scoring when they plated their ninth run in the bottom of the sixth. Overocker singled through the left side to lead off the inning.
Hannah Beran (Calendonia, Ill.) came into pinch run and moved over to second on a ground out. Lutes doubled to center to score Beran from second.
The Buccaneers have a quick turn around, hosting Cornell College in the Midwest College Conference opener. First pitch for game one at Strong Complex Softball field is set for 1 pm.
