TITUSVILLE, FL - The Bay College Softball Team played three games on Monday, the busiest day of their spring trip. After dropping a 10-1 decision to the Lewis and Clark Community College Trailblazers (1-2), the Norse would defeat the Owens Community College Express (1-1) by a final of 17-6, then comeback to win an extra inning thriller against the Central Lakes College Raiders (2-4) by a final of 10-6.
GAME 1 - LEWIS & CLARK - 10, BAY COLLEGE - 1
The Trailblazers' Hannah Rexford (FR, East Alton, IL) would spin a no-hitter in six innings of work. The only blemish to her record would be in the fourth, when the Emily Bruntjens (SO, Escanaba, MI) would reach via a two-base error, and score on the ensuing play, also a fielding error. Rexford would strike out six and walk just one in the contest.
Meanwhile the Trailblazer offense got on the board early and often. The only inning they would not score was the second. They would collect 11 hits and get two homeruns from Bethany Muenstermann (SO, Dow, IL).
Rhiley Hubert (SO, Rapid River, MI) and Lexi Winling (FR, Gladstone, MI) would split the game in the circle, with Hubert taking the loss.
GAME 2 - BAY COLLEGE - 17, OWENS CC - 6
Three Norse errors would give Owens a three run lead in the first. The Express' lone hit of the inning would be an RBI double to center. The Norse would answer, taking advantage of two bases loaded walks before Kaitlyn Hardwick (FR, Gladstone, MI) would clear the bases with a triple.
Bay would put up five more runs in the fourth, this time Richelle Vandeville (FR, Rapid River, MI), Jerrika McAlpine (SO, Escanaba, MI), and Claire McInerney (FR, Escanaba, MI) would tally RBI singles. The Norse would put the game out of reach in the seventh. A Hardwick double would drive in two more runs, and errors would create a six run inning, as the Norse would bury the Express by 11 runs.
Hardwick would drive in six runs in the game, collecting three hits in five at bats, which would include a double and a triple. McAlpine went four for five with three runs scored and a triple. Winling would give up three unearned runs in four innings of work to earn the win.
GAME 3 - BAY COLLEGE - 10, CENTRAL LAKES - 6 (8 Innings)
Eve LaFleche (FR, Hillman, MI) would get things rolling in the first inning with a double to center, plating one run, and then scoring later on a Raider error. Hardwick and McInerney would both hit RBI doubles in the third, and the Norse would hold a 4-1 lead.
Central Lakes would rally in the fourth. They would load the bases with one out and a single, an error, and a passed ball would tie the game. An infield groundball would plate two more runs, and the Raiders would hold a 6-4 lead.
Bay would wait until their last possible at bats to rally. It would start with an error that would put Hardwick on second. LaFleche would follow that up with a double to center, driving in a run, and putting herself into scoring position with a chance to tie the game. The Norse would play some small ball to force extra innings. After a ground ball to the right side would move the runner to third, McInerney would lay down a successful squeeze bunt to tie the game at six.
The Norse wouldn't waste any time in extras. A Vandeville single would score the runner from second to start the inning. A two-out single from Bruntjens would extend the inning, and Hardwick would step to the plate with an opportunity to extend the lead. She would drive a ball to center, putting the game out of reach for the Raiders.
Hardwick would finish three for five with a double, homer, and three RBI. Bruntjens would also go three for five and score twice. LeFleche hit two doubles in five at bats, driving in three runs, while McAlpine finished two for two. Winling pitched the final four and two thirds innings, giving up just two hits and no runs and earning the win.
The Norse take the day off tomorrow before returning to action on Wednesday. They will face the College of DuPage at 9 am, and then meet up with Owens Community College at 11:30 am.