ESCANABA, MI - The Bay College softball team rallied from a 5-0 deficit to beat the Finlandia Lions, 7-6, in the second game of a doubleheader Monday in Wells Township.
Finlandia won the opener, 9-6.
Richelle Vandeville (FR, Rapid River, MI) hit a home run in both games of the twinbill for the Norse.
Denia Bent (JR, Cape Coral, FL) launched a long three-run homer for the Lions in the first inniung of the opener, giving her team a 3-0 lead.
The Norse rallied on Vandeville's first home run, an RBI triple by Claire McInerney (FR, Escanaba, MI), and a squeeze bunt by Eve LaFleche (FR, Hillman, MI).
The Lions, however, regained the lead on a two-run double by Kyndell Coffman (SO, Apache, OK) in the top of the fourth inning.
Finlandia expanded its lead to 9-3 before the Norse made a late charge with two out in the seventh inning. Kaitlyn Hardwick (FR, Gladstone, MI) had an RBI double during that rally, but it fell short. Harlie Caster (JR, Norway, MI) went 2-fof-4 and scored four runs for the Lions.
Lexi Winling (FR, Gladstone, MI) pitched the first four innings and took the loss, allowing five earned runs on six hits. Rhiley Hubert (SO, Rapid River, MI) threw the last three innings, allowing three unearned runs.
In the second game, Finlandia took a 5-0 lead into the sixth inning. But the Norse scored four times as the Lions made a couple of errors.
Hardwick doubled in a run, Maddy Griffin (FR, Escanaba, MI) singled home another, and then Vandeville launched a two-run homer to make it 5-4.
The Lions got a run back in the bottom of the sixth, but the Norse scored three times in the top of the seventh inning. Jerrika McAlpine (SO, Escanaba, MI) doubled in Emily Bruntjens (SO, Escanaba, MI), then Hardwick doubled home McAlpine to tie the game.
After Griffin singled Hardwick to third base, and Vandeville ripped a line drive single to bring home the go-ahead run.
Hubert pitched the entire game for the victory, allowing six runs on ten hits. She struck out seven and walked two. Franette Fernandez (FR, Hoover, AL) threw 6 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs on 11 hits. Bent came on to pitch the final out for Finlandia.
Story and Photo courtesy of Jack Hall, RRN Sports