WAUWAUTOSA, WI - The Norse Softball Team (12-4) swept a doubleheader against the Wisconsin Lutheran College JV team on Friday. The Norse would take a tight one by a final of 5-4 and pour on the runs to take the nightcap by a final of 12-3.
GAME 1 - BAY COLLEGE - 5, WISCONSIN LUTHERAN - 4
Emily Bruntjens (SO, Escanaba, MI) tripled to lead off the game and scored the first run two batters later on a ground out, giving Bay the early lead. They would miss out on an opportunity in the second, leaving two on. Wisconsin Lutheran finally put a threat together in the fourth, with a pair of lead off singles. An error would plate a run and tie the game, but Bay would get out of the jam with a double play in the next at bat.
Wisconsin Lutheran would take the lead in the fifth with some clutch two-out hitting. Rebecca Foster (JR, Spring, TX) and Alli McQuiston (SO, Clinton, IA) would hit back-to-back, two-out RBI doubles, giving the home team a 3-1 lead. Bay would take advantage of a Wisconsin Lutheran error in the top of the sixth, with Richelle Vandeville (FR, Rapid River, MI) picking up an RBI single, sending the game to the seventh with Bay trailing by one.
The Norse would put pressure on in that seventh. They would get a pair of lead off singles, and an RBI double from Kaitlyn Hardwick (FR, Gladstone, MI) to tie the game. The ensuing batter would be hit by the pitch, and Bay would have the bases loaded with no one out. A strike out and two groundballs would end the threat, with Bay unable to take the lead.
After getting a one-two-three inning in the bottom of the third, the Norse would start the extra innings with a runner on second. After a bunt single would put runners on first and third, Wisconsin Lutheran would cut down the potential go ahead run at the plate in the next play. With one out Bruntjens would pick up the slack, lining a single to center, and sending a run home to reclaim the lead. Claire McInerney (FR, Escanaba, MI) followed that with a double that would give Bay a two-run lead.
After a passed ball sent the runner to third for Wisconsin Lutheran in the bottom half, she would score on an infield ground ball that would go as a fielder's choice and put the tying run on. Bay would get the next three batters in order and strand the tying run on third, and sealing the 5-4 victory.
Bay would collect 14 hits as a team, and leave 12 on base during the game. Bruntjens led the attack with a four for five performance with a triple, two runs, and an RBI. Vandeville collected three hits in four at bats with an RBI, while McInerney, Jerricka McAlpine (SO, Escanaba, MI), and Hardwick would all end the game with two hits.
Lexi Winling (FR, Gladstone, MI) ended up pitching five innings, giving up five hits, three runs, two earned, two walks, and five strikeouts. She would give way to Rhiley Hubert (SO, Rapid River, MI) who pitched the final three innings, and strike out two, earning the win.
GAME 2 - BAY COLLEGE - 12, WISCONSIN LUTHERAN - 3
The Norse would use a big fourth inning to push themselves past Wisconsin Lutheran in the nightcap. With the game tied at three, Bay would get a rally going with one out. An error, two singles, and another error would break the tie. Another error would plate Bruntjens, and Hardwick singled in the third run of the inning. With two outs another error would extend the inning and McAlpine took advantage, singling to center and driving in two runs. Bay would score six in the inning.
Maddy Griffin (FR, Escanaba, MI) added a two RBI single in the fifth and Vandeville singled in another run, giving Bay enough of a lead to end the game after five innings.
Wisconsin Lutheran would commit seven errors in the contest.
Bruntjens wound up with three hits in four at bats. Griffin collected two hits and two RBI. Eve LaFleche (FR, Hillman, MI) also collected two hits in three at bats.
Hubert pitched three innings, giving up six hits and three earned runs while walking one and striking out one. Winling finished off the final two innings, striking out two and walking one in that span.
Bay will face Bryant and Stratton College Saturday starting at 11 am. The doubleheader will be the finale for the weekend as dropping temperatures have forced the cancellation of Sunday's games.