RHINELANDER, WI – The Bay College Softball Team (1-2) opened their season at the newly minted Hodag Dome. They started the day with a 5-0 win over Milwaukee Area Technical College before dropping a pair of games to Cardinal Stritch University by scores of 10-1 and 10-0.
Game 1 – Bay College defeats Milwaukee Area Technical College 5-0
Karlie Patron (FR, Ishpeming, MI) pitched a complete game, one-hit shutout to lead the Norse to a win in their first game of the season. She struck out seven and walked just one, keeping the Stormer offense off balance throughout.
The Norse took the lead in the second with a pair of runs. Riley Arndt (FR, Bark River, MI) doubled to center to drive in Korey Kaukola (SO, Ishpeming, MI), who had doubled to lead off the inning. Arndt scored two batters later on a wild pitch.
Bay College added insurance runs in the seventh. Sarah Wynn (FR, Pitt Meadows, BC) doubled to left, driving in two. She would score on the next at bat, as Heather Bergstrom (SO, Escanaba, MI) singled to center.
Seven different Norse hitters collected hits in the matchup. Kaitlyn Hardwick (SO, Gladstone, MI) also doubled in the matchup.
The Norse stole six bases in the matchup.
Samire Sino took the loss for the Stormers. She gave up five earned runs and walked four while striking out eight in seven innings of work.
Game 2 – Cardinal Stritch defeats Bay College 10-1
The Norse offense was quieted to just two hits, as the Wolves collected 13 hits and ten runs.
The Wolves took the lead in the bottom of the first before Bay could record an out. A double and single plated the first run, and Chayse Lowney (SR, Fort Madison, IA) belted a homerun to centerfield.
Cardinal Stritch added a run in the second but broke the game open with a five-run third inning.
Hardwick drove in the only run for the Norse, driving in Lexi Challier (SO, Escanaba, MI) with a double in the fourth.
Aundrea Jenkins (SO, Country Club Hills, IL) and Sidney Hero (SR, Griffith, IN) led the Wolves attack with three hits and two RBI in three at bats. Jenkins had two doubles. Lowney was credited with three RBI.
Hannah Edington (FR, Millington, MI) took the loss on the mound, giving up nine earned runs while striking out two and walking two in three innings of work.
Hope Meas struck out five, and gave up two hits and one run in five innings of work for the win.
Game 3 – Cardinal Stritch defeats Bay College 10-0
Bay College found trouble in the third. Already trailing by one, the Wolves were issued a walk, which was followed by errors on consecutive plays. From there another walk and four hits opened the flood gates, putting the Norse down seven runs.
Samantha Beltran (SR, Antioch, IL) put an exclamation point on the big offensive output in the fifth. With no outs and a runner on second she belted a homerun to left field, plating the ninth and tenth runs of the game.
Lauren Stoch (SR, Homer Glenn, IL) pitched a complete game shutout, giving up just two hits and one walk while striking out three.
Patron took the loss for the Norse, going the distance and giving up just three earned runs on seven hits and four walks, while striking out two.
Beltran finished the game going three for three at the plate with two doubles, a homerun, and four RBI.
"Cardinal Stritch brought a level of competition we weren't prepared to match," said Head Coach Heidi Charon, "but there were many ways our team showed us they were capable of playing at that level. We will have to work hard to get there, but we will get there. We know what we need to focus on. Though we weren't as settled in at the plate as we want to be, we had a lot of great at bats. I'm proud of the girls' commitment and fight. The tough competition will help us better prepare for our spring break trip next week."
The Norse will continue their season with their annual spring trip to Florida. They are scheduled to play eight games in six days, kicking off the trip with a doubleheader against Triton College on February 27.