ROSEMOUNT, MN - The Bay Norse Softball Team (23-7) swept the Dakota County Technical College Blue Knights (9-15) in doubleheader action on Friday afternoon.  A big fourth inning would push the Norse to an 8-5 victory in the first game and they would take a 4-2 win in the nightcap.

GAME 1 - BAY COLLEGE - 8, DAKOTA COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE - 5

After Emily Bruntjens (SO, Escanaba, MI) scored on an error in the first, the Blue Knights would answer back in the bottom half.  Two Norse errors would extend the inning, and Deymbre Avalos (FR, Avondale, AZ) would drive in a run with a single.  Bay would be down 3-1 after the first.

Bay would take advantage of an error to cut into the lead in the second, and took a commanding lead after a big fourth inning.  Eve LaFleche (FR, Hillman, MI) singled in a run to tie the game, and Kaitlyn Hardwick would clear a bases loaded jam with a two-out double.  Richelle Vandeville (FR, Rapid River, MI) followed that with a double and would score on an error, giving the Norse an 8-3 lead.

Dakota County loaded the bases with no one out in the bottom of the fourth.  They would score one run on a groundout, but the Norse would shut the rally down.  Lexi Winling (FR, Gladstone, MI) would induce a fly out, get a strike out, and a pop out to second.  Bay would work out of another situation in the fifth, giving up just one run, and held on for a 8-5.

Hardwick finished two for four with three RBI, a run scored, and a double.  Vandeville would also go two for four with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.  Saunders collected two hits in four at bats with a double, and Bruntjens would also collect a pair of hits in four at bats. 

Winling gave up eight hits and just one earned runs in seven innings of work.  She walked five and struck out five.

GAME 2 - BAY COLLEGE - 4, DAKOTA COUNTY TECHNICAL COLLEGE - 2

Dakota County paired a couple of hits in the first to plate the first run of the game, but Bay would answer in the bottom half.  Bruntjens and Jerricka McAlpine (SO, Escanaba, MI) led off with singles to put runners on first and third.  The two players would pull off a double steal to tie the game, with McAlpine advancing to third on an error.  She would score on a ground ball, giving the Norse the lead. 

The Blue Knights would finally crack the board again in the fifth.  Avalos came through with an RBI single, to tie the game at two.  After a leadoff single for Bay in the bottom half, the Blue Knights looked as though they would work around it, getting two quick outs.  A defensive miscue would open the door, plating a run, and setting up Vandeville, who drove in another run with a double to center. 

Bay would work around a leadoff single in the sixth, and then find themselves in trouble in the top in the seventh.  With one out, back-to-back singles set up the Blue Knights with the go ahead run coming to the plate.  A pop out would make it two outs, but a line drive single loaded the bases.  The Norse would get out of the jam, getting a pop out to second base to end the game.

Rhiley Hubert (SO, Rapid River, MI) scattered ten hits over seven innings, give up just one earned run, and one walk, and strike out three.  McAlpine had two hits in three at bats and scored a run.  LaFleche added two hits in three at bats with a run scored.

The Norse continue their series with Dakota County on Saturday afternoon, weather permitting.  First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.