Softball Drops Two To UW-Platteville

The Westminster softball team dropped their first two games of the season to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Monday afternoon. The Westminster Blue Jays took game one into extra innings, but was unable to take the lead and fell 7-6. UW-Platteville overpowered the Blue Jays in game two, 11-1.

The Blue Jays quickly took control of the first game. Senior Lori Jones led off with a single and later scored on a passed ball. Senior Becca Rose walked, then scored off senior Rai’an Harris’ ground out RBI. UW-Platteville scored a run in the second and fourth inning, and heading into the bottom of the fourth the game was tied up at 2.

Harris singled and advanced to second on a ground out. Freshman Alyssa Johnson stepped up and hit a RBI single, advancing on the throw as Harris scored. UW-Platteville answered back with three runs in the top of the fifth and another in the sixth to take the 6-3 lead.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, freshman Charlotte King stepped up to the plate and cracked a double. Freshman Briana Peterson singled, advancing King to third. Jones stepped up to the plate as Peterson stole second. Jones smashed a RBI double, scoring King and Peterson. UW-Platteville overthrew their pass to first, placing Rose on second and scoring Jones to tie the game up at 6. The inning was ended, sending it into extra innings.

The Blue Jays held UW-Platteville from scoring in the eighth, but were unable to score themselves, sending the game into the ninth inning. UW-Platteville led off with a double, who later scored on a wild pitch. Pulling out of the top of the ninth with only one run scored, the Blue Jays trailed 7-6. Rose stepped up to the plate with two outs, ready for a rally. Rose singled, but was stranded on base as the Blue Jays popped up to shortstop, ended the season opener with a 7-6 loss.

Senior Brittany Lee pitched the complete game, facing 44 batters and striking out five.

UW-Platteville took a 5-0 lead by the end of the fourth inning of game two. Rose hit an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth to score Peterson, but the Blue Jays were unable to score another, ending the inning with the Blue Jays trailing 5-1. UW-Platteville scored three in the sixth and seventh inning, ending the game at 11-1.

Freshman Alyson Hahn pitched the complete game, facing 42 batters.

The Blue Jays are back in action on Saturday, March 15, as they host Loras College. First game starts at 11:00 a.m. at the Blue Jay Field.