TITUSVILLE, FL - The Bay Norse Softball Team (7-1) continued their strong spring trip with a shutout of the College of DuPage Chaparrals (1-8), and then walking off in extra innings against Owens Community College (2-2) by a final of 5-4.
GAME 1 - BAY COLLEGE - 8, COLLEGE OF DUPAGE - 0
Lexi Winling (FR, Gladstone, MI) would go a complete game from the circle, giving up five hits and three walks while striking out six. DuPage would never really get much of a threat together. They would pair a walk and a single in the second inning to put a runner in scoring position with one out, but Winling would induce a pop fly and strike out a hitter to end the inning. In the sixth the Chaparrels would get a leadoff double, which would be followed by an error, but the Norse were able to slam the door again. Winling would strike out the next hitter, get a fly out to right that would advance a runner to third, and then strike out another hitter for the third out.
Meanwhile Bay would take the lead in the bottom of the first. Eve LaFleche (FR, Hillman, MI) doubled to start the inning, and would score on a Emily Bruntjens (SO, Escanaba, MI) single. With two outs Richelle Vandeville (FR, Rapid River, MI) singled to right to bring Bruntjens around to score. An error would plate Jerrika McAlpine (SO, Escanaba, MI) in the fourth, and the offense would peak in the sixth. After a leadoff double by Claire McInerney (FR, Escanaba, MI), Bay would take advantage of two errors and get RBI singles from Bruntjens, Rhiley Hubert (SO, Rapid River, MI), and Vandeville to end the game.
Vandeville ended the game three for four with two RBI and a double. Bruntjens would go two for four with three RBI and a double.
GAME 2 - BAY COLLEGE - 5, OWENS CC - 4
An error would cost Bay a run in the first, but they would respond in the bottom half. Aubree Saunders (SO, Escanaba, MI) singled to drive in a run and tie the game. Vandeville would follow that up with a sacrifice fly to center, and an error would cost Owens a third run. Bay would take advantage of another error in the second, and hold a 4-1 lead.
The Express were finally able to put together a threat in the fifth. Two singles and an error would load the bases. Bay would get a pop out for the first out, but Owens followed that up with back to back singles that would tie the game, setting up the dramatic finish.
Bay would miss an opportunity in the sixth when they had two on with one out, but McAlpine would lead off the bottom of the seventh with a walk. On the very next pitch, Saunders would drive a fly ball to left that would end with a double and McAlpine scoring all the way from first to end the game, and make it four consecutive wins for the Norse.
Hubert would start the game and give up four runs, though just one of them was earned. She would scatter eight hits and strike out one. Winling worked the final two and one third for the win, striking out two. Saunders was two for four in the game with a double and two RBI.
The Norse will wrap up their spring trip on Thursday. They will start with an 11:30 am rematch with College of DuPage, and then face Spoon River College at 2 pm.