TITUSVILLE, FL - The Bay College Softball Team (8-2) wrapped up their spring break trip with two games on Thursday. They would drop the first one to the College of DuPage Chaparrals (2-9) by a final of 8-0. They would go on to beat Spoon River College (4-14) by a final score of 5-1.
GAME 1 - COLLEGE OF DUPAGE - 8, BAY COLLEGE - 0
Five Norse errors would lead to eight unearned runs. The Chaparrals would grab the lead in the second with a two out rally. Back-to-back singles would put the pressure on, and then a defensive miscue would set up a big inning. A hit by pitch and doubles on consecutive at bats would plate five runs. DuPage would add one run in the third and two in the sixth, all coming with two outs.
Meanwhile Bay would struggle to get anything going offensively, collecting just four hits in the matchup. They would draw four walks, but leave a total of seven runners on base in the game.
Rhiley Hubert (SO, Rapid River, MI) took the loss, pitching a complete game and surrendering ten hits and one walk. DuPage's Karen Martini (SO, Mokena, IL) earned the win, striking out eight in six innings of work.
GAME 2 - BAY COLLEGE - 5, SPOON RIVER - 1
Aubree Saunders (SO, Escanaba, MI) would single in a run in the first inning to give the Norse a lead. Spoon River would respond in the top of the second with a sacrifice fly to tie the game, but Bay would take control in the bottom half. Four hits to lead off the inning would plate three, highlighted by a two RBI double by Maddy Griffin (FR, Escanaba, MI) and a line drive RBI single from Emily LaFave (SO, Escanaba, MI). Griffin would add an RBI single in the third, and it would prove to be more than enough to propel the Norse to victory.
Lexi Winling (FR, Gladstone, MI) scattered six hits and struck out four in a complete game effort. Griffin would go three for three with a double, a run scored, and three RBI. Richelle Vandeville (FR, Rapid River, MI) went two for three with two runs scored, while Saunders finished two for three with an RBI.
"We saw two extremes today with our team," said Head Coach Heidi Charon. "This morning's game was rough. Our energy was almost as flat as our bats. Thankfully the girls were able to start fresh in our second game against Spoon River. Our bats exploded, Lexi [Winling] pitched an excellent game, and our outfield robbed them of several big hits."
The Norse wrap up their spring trip winners of eight of ten games. "I'm so proud of the team for how hard they've worked this week. Playing ten games in five days is far from easy. It's exciting to see that we can compete with teams like Spoon River. We have learned a lot and are anxious to see how we measure up with teams in our region next weekend in Minnesota."
The Norse will compete in the Region XIII Early Bird Tournament next weekend in Rosemount, MN. They will play six games from Thursday, March 21 to Saturday, March 23.