Lee Breaks Two All-Time Pitching Records In Split With Loras
Senior Brittany Lee broke not only one, but two all-time pitching records during Westminster’s game one 6-5 win over Loras College Saturday afternoon. The Westminster Blue Jays then fell to Loras College 6-2 in game two, bringing their overall record to 1-3.
Lee set the all-time pitching win record to 23 wins after the game one win. She came into the 2014 season tied with Brandy Raithel (1995-98) at 22 wins. She broke the pitching strikeout record after throwing two strikeouts in the top of the third inning. After today’s doubleheader, she holds the record with 280 career strikeouts. The record was previously held by Beth Hancock (2006-07) with 269.
Senior Lori Jones started the game with a lead-off single and then stole second. Senior Becca Rose stepped up to the plate and cracked a RBI double, scoring Jones to put the Blue Jays up 1-0. Rose made it to third, but was unable to make it across the plate.
The second inning was scoreless, but the Loras Duhawks came out strong in the third. The Duhawks managed to score three runs with two outs before Lee was able to strike out the final batter. The Blue Jays were unable to score in the bottom of the third and fourth.
The Duhawks grabbed two more runs in the fifth inning, bringing their lead to 5-1. In the bottom of the fifth, the Blue Jays managed to score. With Jones on third, Rose on first and freshman Allison Biggs up to bat, Rose went to steal second. The Duhawks threw to second, giving Jones the opportunity to steal home and score.
The Blue Jays put two more on the board in the sixth after freshman Anne Baker scored on a wild pitch and freshman Madison McKindley scored when Lee reached on an error. They held Loras from scoring in the seventh, leaving them down 5-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Jones led-off with a walk and advanced to third with Rose’s single (advanced to second on throw). Biggs hit a RBI single, scoring Jones. Rose advanced to third and Biggs advanced to second on the throw. With no outs, Baker stepped up to the plate and hit a RBI single. Rose scored, ending the game with a 6-5 Blue Jay win.
Lee pitched the complete game, striking out ten. Jones went 2-3 from the plate and scored three runs.
The Blue Jays put the first numbers on the board in game two, scoring in the second inning. Baker walked, advanced to second on freshman Alyssa Johnson’s sacrifice bunt, to third on Lee’s fly out and scored on freshman Liz Carthen’s RBI single. Carthen advanced to second off freshman Bri Peterson’s single and scored with Jones’ RBI single.
Loras grabbed runs in the third, fourth and four runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-2 lead. The Blue Jays were unable to score again, ending game two with a 6-2 loss.
Lee was credited with the loss after allowing four runs. She struck out four. Carthen went 2-2 from the plate.
The Blue Jays are back in action Sunday, March 16, as the host Grinnell College for a doubleheader. Game one starts at 2:00 p.m.
