ESCANABA, MI - The Bay Norse Softball Team (16-6) hosted the Gogebic Community College Samsons (2-21) in NJCAA Region XIII action on Friday afternoon.  The Norse would win big, shutting their guests out 14-0 and 20-0.

GAME 1 - BAY COLLEGE - 14, GOGEBIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE - 0

The Norse would use a big second inning to spark their offense for the day.  Beth Gannigaon (FR, Coleman, WI) got the scoring started with an RBI single.  Emily Bruntjens (SO, Escanaba, MI) kept the rally going with two outs with an RBI single, and Claire McInerney (FR, Escanaba, MI) doubled in two more.  An error would bring in another run, extending the inning, and allowing the Norse to score a run on a wild pitch, and a Richelle Vandeville (FR, Rapid River, MI) single.  Bay would add four in the third and three in the fourth on their way to building a big lead.

Rhiley Hubert (SO, Rapid River, MI) earned the win, pitching all five innings, and giving up just two hits and striking out eight while walking no one.  Bruntjens went four for four with two triples, two RBI, three runs scored, and a stolen base.  Vandeville collected three hits in three at bats, which included a double, an RBI, and a run scored.  Aubree Saunders wound up with three hits in three at bats as well, driving in a run.  McInerney ended the game two for four with a double and four RBI, while Paige Welch (SO, Perronville, MI) would leg out an RBI triple.

GAME 2 - BAY COLLEGE - 20, GOGEBIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE - 0

The Norse banged out 13 hits and took advantage of eight walks and four Gogebic errors to blow by the Samsons in game two. 

Bay got the scoring started in the first, as Kaitlyn Hardwick (FR, Gladstone, MI) smacked an RBI single with one away.  A groundout would bring in another run, but the big shot would come with the bases loaded.  Olivia Capodilupo (FR, Gladsstone, MI) drove a high fastball over the fence in left for a grand slam homerun, capping off a six-run inning.

The Norse would pour it on in the second.  Hardwick would smash a three-run homerun with one away, and putting the game out of reach.  An error and a wild pitch would plate three more runs, and Jerricka McAlpine's (SO, Escanaba, MI) single would bring two more runs home.  The Norse would lead by 14 after just two innings of play.  Bay would score two in the fourth, and Eve LaFleche (FR, Hillman, MI) capped off a four-run fifth with a three-run homerun. 

Lexi Winling (FR, Gladstone, MI) pitched a complete game, striking out five and giving up just four hits.  Hardwick finished three for five with four RBI and two runs scored.  LaFleche went three for five with four runs scored and three RBI.  McAlpine collected two hits in five at bats and three RBI, while McInerney went two for four with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.

The Norse finish the four game series against the Samsons on Saturday afternoon.  The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1pm.