MARQUETTE,  MI – The Bay College Softball Team (1-1) split their opening weekend of games in the Superior Dome.  After dropping a 2-1 decision to Concordia University on Saturday night, the Norse offense would explode on Sunday morning, defeating the Northern Michigan Wildcats by a final score of 16-1.

Concordia University (WI) JV – 2, Bay College – 1

The Norse offense was unable to find an answer to the Concordia pitching in the season opener.  Bay College would muster just one hit and strike out 16 times in the contest.  Despite the struggles, the Norse would claim the first lead of the game in the fourth inning.  Lexi Chaillier (FR, Escanaba, MI) doubled to lead off the inning, and scored with two outs in the inning.

Eden Oswald (FR, Bark River, MI) was able to match the Concordia pitching staff, as she surrendered just one hit in five and two thirds, striking out eight and walking just two over that time period.  Concordia would finally get to reliever Brittany Schwartz (FR, Rapid River, MI) in the sixth.  After a lead off single and double set runners up on second and third, a one-out single from Payton Dom (SO, Freedom, WI) drove in two runs.  The Norse would manage to get out of the jam, but the damage had been done.  The Norse went down in order in the sixth and seventh, falling by a final of 2-1.

Schwartz took the loss for the Norse, giving up two runs on four hits and one walk, while striking out two in an inning and a third.  Alyssa Vikoski (SO, Greenfield, WI) started and pitched four innings, striking out ten, and giving up the lone hit and run.  Dom ended up earning the win in relief, pitching three innings and striking out six, while not allowing a baserunner.

Dom was also the leading hitter, ending the game two for three with two RBI,

Bay College – 16, Northern Michigan University – 1

The Wildcats were the first to strike, taking advantage of a leadoff walk to manufacture a run.  The Norse turned the tables quickly, pounding out ten hits in the bottom of the first to plate 11 runs.  Chaillier, Morgan Letteriello (FR, Gladstone, MI), Beth Gannigan (SO, Coleman, WI), and Madison Griffin (SO, Escanaba, MI) all collected multiple hits in the inning.   After a quiet second inning, the Norse ended the game in the third with a five-run outburst before Northern Michigan could record an out. 

 Leteriello led all hitters with a three for three performance, driving in three runs in the process.  Chaillier, Gannigan, Griffin, and Richelle Vandeville (SO, Rapid River, MI) each finished with two hits.  In all the Norse collected 15 hits and three walks to pick up their first win of the season.

Schwartz picked up the win in three innings of work.  She surrendered just one run on one hit, all while walking just one and striking out five.

The Norse will now prepare for their spring break trip.  They open the week long excursion to Florida on March 7 against Sinclair Community College.