BLAINE, MN – The Bay College Softball Team (6-11) had their last scheduled tune up before conference play in a five-game, two-day get together at the dome in Minnesota. After dropping a pair to St. Mary's University JV on Sunday, Bay picked up wins against Bethel University JV, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, and Minnesota North College – Vermilion.
Bay took an early lead in the opener against St. Mary's on Sunday. Dianne Salinas (FR, Rancho Cordova, CA) drove in a run in the first. The Norse took advantage of some miscues as a an error and two wild pitches would bring in runs in the second. Avery Sorochan (SO, Two Hills, AB) capped off the four-run frame with an RBI single of her own. A pair of bases loaded walks in the third set up Bay with a comfortable 7-0 lead.
Things changed in the sixth. A two-out error on the Norse would get the Cardinals on the board. St. Mary's made sure to make the defensive gaffe hurt as Katelyn Cruze (JR, Litchfield, MN) followed it up with an RBI triple, and scored on a Lizzie Pike (FR, Rochester, MN) single.
The seventh started with trouble again. After a lead off single, another costly error on the Norse sparked a rally. The next three batters hit safely for St. Mary's, plating two more runs. A couple of quick outs made it appear as though the Norse would get out of the jam, but Pike drilled a three-run home run to center giving the Cardinals their first lead of the game. Bay struggled to get out of the inning and Michelle Smith (SO, Oak Lawn, IL) and Alexis Blackburn (FR, Chicago, IL) tacked on doubles that drove in two runs apiece.
With momentum clearly shifted to St. Mary's, Bay went quietly in the bottom of the seventh, giving away a game by the final of 13-7.
Blackburn had a five for five game at the plate while Pike was three for three and drove in four.
Natalie Belanger (SO, Rapid River, MI) was two for two with a walk for the Norse and Sorochan had two RBI.
Rachael Winkel (SO, Silvis, IL) went the distance in the pitcher's circle. She gave up 14 hits and four walks, but only two of the t13 runs she surrendered were earned. She struck out five.
The Norse got out to a lead again in the nightcap. The first five batters reached safely including RBI singles from Winkel, Salinas, and Belanger. Ellie Miller (SO, Ishpeming, MI) drove in another run, and an error would make it 5-0 in favor of Bay College.
Emily Bonk (FR, Hudson, WI) helped St. Mary's respond in the bottom half with an RBI double. The Cardinals got another break with a two-out error to plate another run, cutting Bay's lead to three runs after one inning of play.
The score remained the same until the bottom of the fifth. An error extended the inning and with two outs Cassie Sutor (SR, Chicago, IL) drove in a run on a base hit to center, making the score 5-3.
In the bottom of the sixth the Cardinals got their two leadoff hitters on with a pair of hits. They pulled to within one with a ground out. Bay once again had a chance to get out of the inning and limit damage, but a two-out error tied the game and opened the floodgates again. A bases loaded walk, followed by two passed balls and a while pitch ended up giving St. Mary's a 9-5 lead before Bay could get out of the inning.
The game was called after six innings due to time constraints.
The Norse had five hits as a team, and Winkel was responsible for two of them, including a double.
Salinas took the loss in relief. In one-third of an inning she gave up three hits and three runs, only one of which was earned. Belanger started and finished the game, going five and two-thirds. She surrendered just four hits, walked five, and gave up six runs. Only one run on her line was earned. She struck out nine hitters.
Bay looked to bounce back the next day against Bethel University JV.
After giving up a run in the first, Bay found a major power supply. Salinas belted a two-run shot in the bottom half of inning number one to put the Norse on top. Allison Podhaniuk (SO, Stony Plain, AB) drilled a solo shot of her own in the second. In the third Miller got in the act with a two run shot to left, and Salinas went back-to-back, hitting her second of the day.
The only runs to score for Bay that were not off of long balls came in the fourth and fifth. Winkel picked up an RBI on a ground out in the fourth, and Podhaniuk beat out a ball with two outs that resulted in an error to bring in the eighth run of the game. The Norse cruised to an 8-2 victory.
Sorochan and Salinas ended up with multi-hit efforts.
Maddi O'Connor (FR, New Ulm, MN) collected three of Bethel's four hits, including a solo home run in the seventh.
Winkel picked up the win in four innings of work. She gave up just two hits, one run, one walk, and struck out eight. Belanger earned her first save of the year, finishing off the final three and giving up two hits, one run, one walk, and striking out one.
Bay turned to Winkel once again in the second game against Anoka-Ramsey and found themselves in a pitcher's duel.
Winkel stranded a one-out error in the first and worked around the first two hitters reaching safely in the second. Bay's defense made up for a third inning error by turning a double play to end the frame and then were able to strand two more runners in the fourth.
Meanwhile the Golden Rams' Molly Gross (SO, Columbia Heights, MN) was on as well. She worked a 1-2-3 first and stranded a one-out walk in the second. A lead off single in the third didn't phase her as the runner was left standing at third, and a two-out double in the fourth was stranded as well.
It was the Golden Rams' defense that faltered in the fifth. With one out an error got things going, and then a bunt ended up turning into a hit for Kacalo. Anoka-Ramsey committed a fatal, two-out error that plated the first run of the game and put Bay ahead 1-0.
Winkel worked out again in the fifth, this time dodging a pair of one-out singles. The Golden Rams put two on in the sixth again to no avail and had one last chance in the seventh. Anoka-Ramsey got a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases with no one out in the last frame. Winkel then got the next batter to pop up in short left field. The next hitter hit the ball on the ground, but right to Sierra Jones (FR, Calgary, AB) whose throw home was on the money to get the second out and prevent a run. The final out came on a pop up in the infield, and Sorochan squeezed it for the final out of the game.
Winkel scattered seven hits and three walks while striking out four to earn the complete game shutout.
Gross took the tough-luck loss. She gave up just three hits, one walk, and one unearned run all while striking out 12.
In the finale the Norse used a seven-run third to break the game open. Miller drove in two with an RBI single and Jones followed that with an RBI double. The Norse stayed patient at the plate, drawing three consecutive walks to extend their lead. Kacalo picked up an RBI on a ground ball and Sorochan capped off the inning with an RBI single.
The Norse added a run in the seventh with a Madyson Rothe (SO, Green Bay, WI) RBI single, and ended up with a comfortable 8-1 victory.
Jones led the Norse with a three for four game. Sorochan, Miller, and Rothe each picked up two hits apiece.
Brooke Gannon (SO, Edmonton, AB) picked up her first win, pitching the final four innings in relief. She gave up two hits, one run, and three walks while striking out six. Belanger started the game and had a no-hitter going through three. She walked two and struck out seven.
Bay is scheduled for their first ever MCCAA Northern Conference games this coming weekend. They will start a five-game series at Mid Michigan College with a doubleheader on Friday. They will follow that with two games on Saturday and finish with a single game on Sunday.