CHAIN OF LAKES, FL – The Bay College Softball Team (2-5) snapped a four-game losing streak with a 12-9 win over Lincoln Trail Community College. The Statesmen evened up the season series with a 9-8 win in the second game of the doubleheader.
After giving up two unearned runs in the top of the first, the Norse answered in the bottom half. Kaitlyn Hardwick (SO, Gladstone, MI) homered to lead off the inning, and Korey Kaukola (SO, Champion, MI) belted a two-run homer later in the inning, giving the Norse the lead.
Hardwick continued to do damage in the second, smacking another solo shot, this one to left, with two outs in the inning.
Still up 4-2 in the bottom of the third, the Bay power surge continued. After two one-out walks Kristin Goodacre (FR, Rapid River, MI) got into the act with a fly ball homerun to left field, putting the Norse up 7-2.
Goodacre struck again in the fourth. This time she followed a hit and two walks with a grand slam to center giving the Norse an 11-3 lead.
The Statesman mounted a comeback in the fifth. Reagan Holeman (FR, Sullivan, IN) hit a two-RBI double and Carlei Sapp (FR, Paris, IL) tripled in a run and then scored on a sacrifice fly, making the score 11-8.
The Norse added an insurance run in the fifth with a sacrifice bunt.
Lincoln Trails scored an unearned run in the seventh, but their comeback effort fell short as they stranded two runners on in the inning.
Hannah Edington (SO, Millington, MI) earned the win on the mound. She went two and two thirds innings in relief, giving up one unearned run on three hits.
Goodacre's two homeruns ended up netting her seven RBI in the contest.
In the second game the Norse got on the board in the top of the first. Sarah Wynn (FR, Pitt Meadows, BC) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, but Bay left the bases loaded without doing any further damage.
The Statesman countered in the third. With two outs they took advantage of a Bay error and extended the frame. A single followed, setting up Taylor Poling (FR, Nashville, TN) who blasted a three-run homerun to take the lead. Kaylee Irelan (FR, Mecca, IN) drove in another run with a double, putting the Statesman up 4-1.
Bay wasted no time with an answer as Hailey Boucher (FR, Bark River, MI) led off the fifth with a solo homerun. After the Norse loaded the bases, and then scored a run on a passed ball, Wynn tied the game with a single that drove in two. She scored on a fielder's choice, and the Norse held the lead once again, this time by one run.
With no shortage of offense in this game, Sapp scored on an RBI double from Jaedyn Johnson (SO, Robinson, IL) to tie the game once again. Karlee Jeffries (FR, Rockville, IN) untied it moments later with a three-run homerun.
The Norse rallied in the seventh. Lexi Challier (SO, Escanaba, MI) doubled in a run. Wynn drove in another run with a single. With two outs, the Norse would take advantage of a wild pitch and tie the game, but they left the potential go-ahead run stranded at third.
The Statesmen got a double to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but followed that with two quick outs. Jeffries stepped up in the clutch, delivering a walk off single to give Lincoln Trails the win.
Halle Ellis (FR, Brazil, IN) was credited with the win, pitching one inning in relief, striking out two, and giving up one unearned run.
Hannah Edington took the loss and gave up three unearned runs on six hits in four and one third innings of work.
Boucher and Challier both ended up three for four with an RBI in the game. Wynn finished going two for four with 2 RBI.
"The girls played great today," said Head Coach Heidi Charon. "Though they were far from perfect defensively, they fought hard and their bats made up for it. Tons of credit to Kaitlyn Hardwick for starting off our first at bat of the day with a homerun. It's hard to beat that. Kristin Goodacre had a phenomenal day at the plate with two homeruns (one grand slam) and seven RBI's. On top of that she has really stepped up for us behind the plate as our only healthy catcher right now. The highlight of the day was when Hailey Boucher threw out a runner at third on a tag up from deep right field. Lincoln Trail is a great team and we're excited to play them again tomorrow. Every day we're building on top of the last and this tough schedule early in the season will pay dividends in the long run."
The Norse will face off with Lincoln Trails again tomorrow. The doubleheader will start at 10 am.