BELOIT, Wis. – The Beloit College Softball team showcased both power and persistence this afternoon, splitting a doubleheader against Knox College at home. The Buccaneers (3-25, 1-5 MWC) opened the day with a commanding 9-0 shutout victory before falling just short in a high-scoring 9-8 thriller in the nightcap.
Game 1: Beloit 9, Knox 0 (5 Innings)
The Buccaneers fired on all cylinders in the first game of the day, utilizing a massive seven-run fourth inning and a stellar pitching performance from Avary Briggs (Albany, Wis.) to secure a 9-0 victory in five innings.
Briggs was the story in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout. She surrendered only three hits and zero walks while striking out five batters to earn her second win of the season.
Beloit's offense provided early support when G Calderon (Winthrop Harbor, IL) sparked the opening frame with a single and a stolen base. A heads-up play during a second-base steal allowed Kaylee Witte (Poplar Grove, IL) to cross the plate for the first run of the game. In the third, Lylah Murrah (North Pole, AK) grounded into a fielder's choice to drive home Calderon, doubling the lead.
The floodgates opened in the bottom of the fourth. The Buccaneers sent 12 batters to the plate, scoring seven runs on five hits. After Allie Gustafson (Beloit, Wis.) singled to left to lead off the inning, Witte drove in Gustafson with a sacrifice fly. Briggs and Allison Olson (Sandwich, IL) both earned RBIs with bases-loaded plate appearances (a walk and a hit-by-pitch, respectively). later in the inning, Murrah ripped an RBI single to center to score Joey Meyers (Orfordville, Wis.) who pinch ran for Calderon. Qitarra Olson (Onalaska, WI) delivered the knockout blow with a sharp two-run single to right-center, scoring Murrah and Allison Olson.
Calderon finished the game a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two stolen bases, leading a 10-hit attack for the Bucs.
Game 2: Knox 9, Beloit 8
The second game was a stark contrast to the first, as both offenses exploded for a combined 26 hits. Despite trailing 9-3 entering the fifth inning, Beloit refused to quit, scoring five unanswered runs to push the Prairie Fire (6-16, 1-5 MWC) to the brink.
Murrah continued her hot streak, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a double. Jessalyn Coppe (Niles, IL) also turned in a three-hit performance, while Gustafson added two hits, including a double.
In the first inning, Murrah brought the Bucs within striking distance early with a two-run single that scored Witte and Q. Olson.
In the second, after Q. Olson drew an RBI walk, Calderon executed a daring steal of home to cut the Knox lead to 6-3.
Allie Gustafson ignited the crowd with an RBI single in the fifth, which also allowed Sydney Weisman (Brookfield, Wis.) to score on a Knox fielding error.
Trailing by four in their final at-bat, the Bucs mounted a furious rally. Coppe laced an RBI single to right field that brought home both Murrah and Gustafson. Witte then grounded out to the right side to bring home Weisman, cutting the deficit to a single run. However, the Knox defense managed to record the final out to escape with the 9-8 win.
The Buccaneers are back in action on the road on Tuesday in a non-conference doubleheader at Elmhurst. First pitch from Salt Creek Park is set for 3 pm.
