BELOIT, Wis. – The Beloit College softball team split with the Illinois College Lady Blues this afternoon, to earn their first Midwest Conference win of the year.
Game 1:
The Buccaneers (3-25, 1-5 MWC) struggled to find its footing in game one, dropping a 6-0 decision. The Buccaneers were held scoreless, managing only two hits while committing four errors that led to four unearned runs for the visitors.
Beloit's offense faced a formidable opponent in Illinois College pitcher Jordan Closs, who threw a complete-game shutout. The Buccaneers' only hits came in the fifth inning, singles by center fielder Siddalee Meyers (Orfordville, Wis.) and third baseman Stella Lutes (Riverside, IL). However, Beloit couldn't capitalize, leaving two runners stranded in the frame. For the game, Beloit struck out 12 times and left six runners on base. Angela Donath (Wausau, Wis.) and Lutes drew the only walks for the Buccaneers.
Starting pitcher Samantha Friedrichsohn (Waukesha, WI) took the loss for Beloit, pitching 2.1 innings and allowing three hits and three runs (one earned) with three walks. Helena Harrison (Chapel Hill, N.C.) provided 4.2 innings of relief, giving up two hits and three runs (one earned) while walking four and striking out two. Despite the six runs scored against them, the Beloit pitching staff only allowed two earned runs.
Besides Meyers and Lutes' singles, Beloit saw limited offensive action. Briana Arteaga (Covina, Calif.) played second base, going 0-for-3 with three assists defensively. Witte handled first base duties.
For Illinois College (12-14, 3-1 MWC), Jordan Closs earned the win with her dominant two-hit, 12-strikeout performance. Kendall Cole powered the offense with a home run, a double, and two RBI.
Game 2:
The Buccaneers rallied late and leaned on a standout performance from pitcher Avary Briggs (Albany, Wis.) to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Lady Blues. The win marks the Buccaneers' first Midwest Conference victory of the season.
Trailing 2-1 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, the Buccaneers manufactured the decisive rally. Donath ignited the comeback by drawing a leadoff walk. Showing smarts and speed on the basepaths, Donath promptly stole second and then advanced to third. This set the stage for Briggs, who helped her own cause by dropping down a perfect RBI bunt single, scoring Donath to tie the game 2-2.
The momentum continued as Witte reached base on an error by the Illinois College pitcher, putting runners on first and second. After a walk to pinch-hitter Kaitlyn Nicholson (Roscoe, Ill) loaded the bases, Allison Olson (Sandwich, IL) lofted a sacrifice fly to center field, deep enough to score Briggs from third for the go-ahead run.
Briggs was the anchor for Beloit throughout the contest. She tossed a complete game, scattering just four hits over 7.0 innings. While Illinois College managed two runs, Briggs was sharp enough to ensure neither was earned, working effectively around three Beloit defensive errors. She issued four walks but crucially kept the Lady Blues (13-14, 4-1 MWC) from mounting significant threats, especially late.
Beyond her game-winning run and tying RBI, other Buccaneers contributed offensively. Witte finished with two of Beloit's four hits, including a key RBI single in the fourth inning that plated Briana Arteaga for Beloit's first run of the game, tying the score 1-1 at the time. Donath's walk and aggressive baserunning in the sixth were critical in setting up the winning rally.
Illinois College scored single unearned runs in the first and sixth innings, capitalizing on Beloit errors. C. Currie singled and scored the game's first run in the top of the first on a sacrifice bunt coupled with an error. D. Melton walked and later scored the Lady Blues' second run in the sixth when K. Cole reached safely on another error.
Pitcher Avery Fritz took the loss for Illinois College.
The Bucs look to build on this when they host the Knox College Prairie Fire tomorrow at the Strong Complex Softball Field. First pitch is set for 1 pm.
