DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Beloit College softball team dropped their final two non-conference games of the season this afternoon against the University of Dubuque Spartans. In game one, the Buccaneers (5-17, 3-5 MWC) mounted a thrilling seventh-inning comeback to seize the lead, but ultimately fell victim to a walk-off single in a gut-wrenching 4-3 loss. The Bucs had less success offensively in game two, falling 0-8 in five innings.
Game 1:
After falling behind 1-0 in the second inning, the Buccaneers battled back to tie the game in the top of the fourth.Kaylee Witte (Poplar Grove, IL) led off the frame with a sharp double down the left-field line. Rachel Overocker (Tinley Park, IL) followed with a single to right, advancing Witte to third. Rachel Overocker (Tinley Park, IL) then delivered a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Witte and knotting the score at 1-1.
Dubuque (18-14, 5-7 A-R-C) reclaimed the lead, 2-1, in the bottom of the fourth. The score remained unchanged until the top of the seventh, when Beloit put together its most impressive rally of the day.
Jordan ignited the comeback with a single down the right-field line. Pinch runner Briana Arteaga (Covina, Calif.) took over on the base paths and alertly advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Hannah Beran (Calendonia, Ill.). Allie Gustafson (Beloit, Wis.) then worked a walk, bringing up pinch runner Joey Meyers (Orfordville, Wis.). With runners on first and second, Beloit executed a perfect double steal, putting both Arteaga and Meyers in scoring position. Following a strikeout, Angela Donath (Wausau, Wis.) delivered a clutch single up the middle, scoring Arteaga to tie the game 2-2 and advancing Meyers to third. Donath promptly stole second base. On the next play, Avary Briggs (Albany, Wis.) reached safely on a throwing error by the Dubuque shortstop, allowing Meyers to scamper home with the go-ahead run, giving Beloit a 3-2 lead.
However, the lead was short-lived. In the bottom of the seventh, Dubuque loaded the bases via two hit batters and a walk around a groundout. A wild pitch by Beloit starter Witte allowed the tying run to score. With runners now on second and third, Jacobs singled to third base, bringing home the winning run for the Spartans' 4-3 walk-off victory.
Witte deserved a better fate, pitching a complete game (6.2 innings) in the loss. She allowed five hits and four earned runs, walking four, striking out one, and hitting three batters.
Beloit scattered four hits offensively. Witte finished with a double and a run scored. Jordan had an RBI single and a sacrifice fly RBI. Donath contributed the game-tying RBI single, a walk, and a stolen base. Pinch runners Arteaga and Meyers both scored crucial runs in the seventh, each adding a stolen base. Beloit played clean defense, committing no errors in the contest, while Dubuque committed two miscues.
Game 2:
Beloit struggled to find offensive rhythm against Dubuque starter Wisely. The Buccaneers managed just two hits over the five innings of play. Witte broke through with a single up the middle in the top of the second inning, and Briggs added a single to center field in the fourth.
The only other baserunner for Beloit came in the third inning when Donath worked a walk. She advanced to second base on a wild pitch, marking the only time a Buccaneer reached scoring position, but was stranded there. Beloit batters struck out five times and left only two runners on base throughout the contest. A promising start to the fourth inning with Briggs' single was quickly erased when Witte grounded into a double play.
On the mound, Helena Harrison (Chapel Hill, N.C.) started for Beloit and took the loss. She pitched 1.2 innings, allowing six hits and five runs (four earned) with two walks. Briggs came on in relief and pitched the final 3.0 innings, giving up five hits and three runs (two earned) while striking out two and walking one.
Dubuque scored consistently, plating three runs in the first, two in the second, and one run in each of the third, fourth, and fifth innings. Stevenson led the Spartans' 11-hit attack with a triple, single, and two RBIs, while Hayes added two doubles and two RBIs. Pitcher Wisely earned the complete-game shutout win for Dubuque, allowing just the two hits and one walk while striking out five.
The Buccaneers head back into MWC action this weekend when they head to Monmouth College on Saturday for a doubleheader against the Fighting Scots. First pitch is set for 1 pm.
