BELOIT, WI - The Beloit College Softball team hosted the Alverno Inferno this evening. Searching for their first wins of the season, the Buccaneers (2-16, 0-0 MWC) held on to take game one 6-5 and won game two in convincing fashion, 13-5 in five innings. The Inferno (1-11, 0-2 NACC) surged late in game one to make it close but were unable to do the same in game two.
Game 1:
The Buccaneers responded quickly after Alverno took an initial lead. Angela Donath (Wausau, Wis.) ignited the offense with a powerful triple down the left-field line. This wasn't just a powerful hit; it forced an error from Alverno's shortstop, allowing Donath to score and immediately level the game.
In the bottom of the second, Siddalee Meyers (Orfordville, Wis.) initiated the rally by drawing a walk and promptly stealing second, showcasing aggressive base running tactics. A sacrifice bunt by Allison Olson (Sandwich, IL) moved Meyers to third, setting the stage forStella Lutes (Riverside, IL). Lutes delivered a crucial RBI double to right center, bringing Meyers home and giving Beloit the lead. The momentum continued as Donath followed with a single up the middle, driving in Lutes and extending Beloit's advantage to two runs.
While only scoring one run, Beloit demonstrated their strategic play in the bottom half of the fourth. After Olson grounded out, Lizzie Paschal (Holbrook, AZ), pinch running for Lutes, singled and promptly stole second, again exhibiting the Buccaneers' aggressive base running. Paloma Reyes (Beloit, Wis.) executed a perfect sacrifice bunt, moving Paschal to third. After Donath walked, creating a scoring opportunity with runners on the corners, a heads-up defensive play resulted in Donath getting out at second, but not before Paschal scored.
The 6th inning was the turning point of the game, thanks to Olson's electrifying home run. After Rachel Overocker (Tinley Park, IL) lined out, Meyers doubled down the left field line. This set the stage for Olson, who blasted a two-run homer to left field, extending Beloit's lead to four runs.
Game 2:
The Buccaneers showcased an impressive offensive performance, racking up 13 runs on 13 hits. The team's bats came alive early, scoring a significant 5 runs in the first inning, and maintaining consistent pressure throughout the game. Notable offensive contributions included multiple RBIs from Lylah Murrah (North Pole, AK) (2 RBIs), Overocker (2 RBIs), and particularly Jessalyn Coppe (Niles, IL), who drove in a game-high 4 RBIs. Hannah Beran (Calendonia, Ill.) also contributed significantly with 2 RBIs.
Beloit's aggressive base running was another key factor in their success. Briana Arteaga (Covina, Calif.) stole a base, and the Buccaneers took advantage of Alverno's defensive struggles to advance on errors and passed balls. The Alverno Inferno committed 4 errors, which Beloit capitalized on effectively.
The Buccaneers look ahead to the weekend to doubleheaders against Carroll and Carthage. The Carroll series is set for Saturday at 12 and 2 pm at Kilgour Field in Waukesha, Wis. The Carthage series is scheduled for Sunday at 12 and 2 pm at the Strong Complex Softball field but may change due to weather.
