OSHKOSH, Wis. – The Beloit College softball team faced a challenging twin bill this afternoon at the Oshkosh indoor facility, dropping contests to the University of Wisconsin-Superior and Wisconsin Lutheran College. While the scoreboard didn't favor the Buccaneers, the day featured several gritty individual performances and flashes of offensive potential as the team continues its early-season campaign.
Game 1: Wis.-Superior 7, Beloit 0
In the opening matchup of the day, Beloit struggled to find an answer for UW-Superior's ace, Mitchell, who managed to keep the Buccaneers off the scoreboard despite Beloit putting runners on base in five of the seven innings.
Brinley Richards (Piedmont, OK) was a massive bright spot for the Buccaneer offense. Stepping in as the designated player, Richards turned in a perfect 2-for-2 performance at the plate. Beloit's most significant scoring threat came in the top of the 2nd inning when Rachel Overocker (Tinley Park, IL) drew a leadoff walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Qitarra Olson (Onalaska, WI). Olson showcased her elite speed, swiping both second and third base to put herself in scoring position with no outs. However, the Buccaneers were unable to drive her home.
Defensively, Abi Krepelka (Boulder Creek, CA) provided strong relief in the circle. Coming on in the 5th inning, she silenced the Yellowjackets' bats, allowing only one hit and zero earned runs over 1.2 innings of work. Other hits in the contest were tallied by Allie Gustafson (Beloit, Wis.), Kaitlyn Nicholson (Roscoe, Ill), and Overocker.
Game 2: Wis. Lutheran 8, Beloit 1
The nightcap against Wisconsin Lutheran saw the Buccaneers strike first in a tightly contested early battle before the Warriors pulled away late.
Beloit's highlight of the day came in the bottom of the 3rd inning. After Sydney Weisman (Brookfield, Wis.) drew a walk and Jessalyn Coppe (Niles, IL) laced a single up the middle, the Buccaneers executed a clinical small-ball sequence. Nicholson delivered the clutch hit the team had been looking for, lining an RBI single to third base that drove in Coppe to tie the game at 1-1.
Kiley Hansen (Greenville, WI) led the hit parade for Beloit in the second game, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate. Nicholson also added a stolen base to her productive afternoon. On the mound, Avary Briggs (Albany, Wis.) started the game with authority, racking up four strikeouts in just 3.1 innings of work while allowing only one earned run.
The Buccaneers head to Florida for Spring Break, playing 10 games in five days. They kick off action on March 8th against Wittenberg (8 am CT) and DeSales (10:30 am CT) at the DiamondPlex in Winter Haven.
