BELOIT, WI – On a cool Saturday afternoon at the Beloit softball complex, the Beloit College Buccaneers faced off against a formidable Illinois College squad in a Midwest Conference doubleheader. While the Buccaneers (2-24, 0-4 MWC) ultimately dropped both contests, the afternoon was highlighted by flashes of defensive resilience.
Game 1: Beloit 0, Illinois College 14 (5 Innings)
The opening game proved to be a difficult test for the Buccaneers. Facing a potent Illinois College offense, Beloit struggled to find their rhythm at the plate. The visiting Lady Blues (19-0, 6-0 MWC) utilized a massive eight-run second inning to pull away early, eventually securing a 14-0 victory in five innings.
Despite the lopsided score, the Beloit pitching staff showed versatility. Samantha Friedrichsohn (Waukesha, WI) got the start, followed by relief appearances from Zoey Buchholtz (Lake Mills, WI) and Zoey Buchholtz (Lake Mills, WI). Kaylee Witte (Poplar Grove, IL) provided the most stable relief of the opener, tossing the final 1.2 innings and allowing only one run while recording a strikeout. Defensively, the Bucs were tested often, with Kaitlyn Nicholson (Roscoe, Ill) and Sydney Weisman (Brookfield, Wis.) recording putouts in the field to help stifle further damage.
Game 2: Beloit 1, Illinois College 8
The second game of the day saw a rejuvenated Beloit squad take the field. The Buccaneers jumped out to an early lead and forced Illinois College to fight for every run in what finished as an 8-1 victory for the visitors.
The Buccaneers drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning. Witte set the tone with a sharp lead-off single. After Allison Olson (Sandwich, IL) was hit by a pitch, Witte showed off her aggressive baserunning by stealing third base. Moments later, Witte crossed the plate on a passed ball, giving Beloit a 1-0 lead and igniting the home crowd.
Witte was the engine for the Beloit offense in the nightcap, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and a stolen base. She also contributed three solid innings in the circle, striking out one. Avary Briggs (Albany, Wis.) earned the start in the circle for Game 2, pitching four innings and recording three strikeouts while keeping the Bucs within striking distance for much of the game. She also added a hit of her own to the box score. Olson was a consistent presence on the basepaths, reaching base three times via two walks and a hit-by-pitch, providing the Buccaneers with multiple scoring opportunities. Weisman showed great range in the outfield and contributed to a late-game defensive stand that kept the Lady Blues from extending their lead further in the sixth.
The Buccaneers host Knox College tomorrow afternoon. First pitch for game one is set for 1 pm.
