WINTER HAVEN, FL – The Beloit College Buccaneers displayed defensive grit and flashes of offensive power during a challenging doubleheader on their final day in the Sunshine State. While the scoreboard didn't favor the Bucs in contests against Penn State-New Kensington and Buena Vista University, several individual performances highlighted the team's competitive spirit as they continue their Florida campaign.
Game 1: Buena Vista 2, Beloit 0
The early game proved to be a defensive showcase, as Beloit pushed Buena Vista to the limit in a narrow 2-0 defeat. The story of the game was the masterful performance of Beloit pitcher Zoey Buchholtz (Lake Mills, WI).
Buchholtz went 6.0 innings, allowing five hits and zero earned runs. Despite the loss, she kept the Buccaneers within striking distance the entire afternoon, inducing 12 flyouts and navigating out of multiple jams.
Offensively, the Buccaneers looked to capitalize on a 2B double by Allison Olson (Sandwich, IL) in the fifth inning and a sharp single by Allie Gustafson (Beloit, Wis.) in the sixth. G Calderon (Winthrop Harbor, IL) and Kaylee Witte (Poplar Grove, IL) also contributed hits to the effort. The Bucs' speed remained a factor, as Qitarra Olson (Onalaska, WI) and Avary Briggs (Albany, Wis.) each recorded stolen bases to put pressure on the Buena Vista defense.
Game 1: Penn State-New Kensington 7, Beloit 0
In the afternoon matchup of the day, Beloit faced off against Penn State-New Kensington. Although the Buccaneers fell 7-0, the final score didn't reflect the consistent pressure Beloit applied at the plate.
The Buccaneers out-hit the opposition in several stretches, finishing the game with six hits—three of which were doubles. Gustafson set the tone early, blasting a double to center field in the first inning. Rachel Overocker (Tinley Park, IL) followed suit in the fourth with a deep double to left-center, and Brinley Richards (Piedmont, OK) added a late-game spark with a double of her own in the top of the seventh.
Beloit also showed aggressive baserunning, with Avary Briggs (Albany, Wis.) and Joey Meyers (Orfordville, Wis.) both successfully swiping bases. On the mound, Briggs, Samantha Friedrichsohn (Waukesha, WI), and Abi Krepelka (Boulder Creek, CA) combined to manage a tough Penn State lineup, with Krepelka providing a solid 1.1 innings of scoreless relief to close out the game.
The Buccaneers head back to Wisconsin and prepare to face Rockford University on Thursday, March 19th. Game times at Regent Field are set for 2 and 4 pm.
