MYRTLE BEACH, FL
After a tough stretch of games, the Owls came prepared and battled in two tough contests vs. Oswego State and Hartwick College on Thursday morning into the afternoon. The biggest X factor was avoiding any catastrophic innings to keep themselves in games. That's exactly what they did in both games. Unfortunately for UMPI, minimizing the oppositions' damage wasn't quite enough to get back in the win column as the offense lagged slightly behind.
Game 1 (3-1 Lakers)
How it Happened:
In matchup number one of the day, The Owls faced the Oswego State Lakers who were coming off a three-game day yesterday. The Owls were able to get through the first inning unharmed this time, however their opponent still drew first blood with the Lakers tallying a run in the bottom of the 2nd.
The Owls answered the bell in the next half on an RBI double from Zoe Stewart as she continues to be the Owls' hottest bat. With the game tied at one, the innings started to fly by as both pitchers carved. Three straight 1-2-3 half-innings brought the game into the bottom of the 5th.
It looked like it would be another three-up, three-down inning when the Owls got the first two batters out, but an error allowed a batter to reach with two down. After a stolen base and a single, Oswego had runners the corners and an opportunity to take control.
With the runner on first base stealing, the Owls backstop, Sabrina Kauffman made an excellent head fake to deke the runner on third and threw a dime to pick her off. The Owls worked the way out of the jam and had a burst of momentum.
The Owls used that momentum to get runners on in the top of the 6th, but the Lakers worked their way out of it unscathed. In the bottom of the 6th, the Owls had two outs with just one runner on, but Oswego rallied this time, with a double and a single to bring two runs across.
Trailing 3-1 in the 7th, the Owls needed to score to keep things going. Sabrina Kauffman singled to start off the inning but was nabbed trying to steal third. The Lakers retired the next two batters and hung on for the 3-1 victory.
At the Plate:
The Owls bats struggled to find gaps in this game as they managed four hits as a team. Zoe Stewart had an Rbi double, going 1-2 on the day. Megan Bucholz went 2-3 with a couple singles, and Sabrina Kauffman went 1-3.
In the Circle:
Gracelyn Walsh went the distance for UMPI and had her best outing of the year despite the loss. She allowed four hits and three runs, but none of which were earned. She struck out a season high six batters as well and went another complete game without walking anybody.
Game 2: (5-2 Hawks)
How it Happened:
For the first time since their victory against Martin Luther College, the Owls got on the board first. After getting out a jam in the top of the 1st, the Owls came through with three hits in their first at bats, resulting in two runs, and UMPI taking their first lead in a game since that victory.
It would be short lived however, as Hartwick tied the game up with two runs of their own in the top of the 2nd. The Hawks added two more in the 3rd, and one more in the 4th, taking a 5-2 lead.
The Owls loaded the bases in the home half of the 5th with a double and two walks. But a Hartwick pitching change proved to be huge, as their reliever struck out the first batter she saw, ending the threat before any could come across.
The Owls went down in order in the 7th, and Hartwick took the game by a score of 5-2.
At the Plate:
The Owls had five hits as a team from five different players. Three of those hits came in the first inning. Gracelyn Walsh went 1-3 with an RBI in the 1st and later a double. Avery VonKadich also went 1-3 with a double. Sabrina Kauffman, Megan Bucholz and Zoe Stewart all had a single. Caileyann Cotta added the second RBI for UMPI.
In the Circle:
It was Gracelyn Walsh again coming up with another big pitching performance for the Owls. Walsh went 6.2 innings pitched, allowing three earned runs. She struck out four and walked two.
Next Up:
The Softball team has one more doubleheader in Myrtle Beach before flying back north. Tomorrow, they'll face Mount Aloysius College at 11 a.m., followed by Hartwick College again at 1 p.m.
