Softball Goes 2-2 On Spring Break Trip

The Westminster softball team went 2-2 on their spring break trip down south. The Westminster Blue Jays traveled to Texas to face the University of Texas-Dallas for a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 25. They dropped both, falling in game one, 6-0 and game two, 7-1. The Blue Jays then traveled to Louisiana to end their road trip with a doubleheader at Centenary College on Wednesday, March 26. They short gamed them in six innings, 12-2 in game one and shut them out in five innings, 8-0, in game two. The Blue Jays head home with a 7-5 overall record.

The Blue Jays were limited to just two hits in game one against UT-Dallas. Senior pitcher Brittany Lee (5-3) was credited with the loss. She pitched the complete game and struck out nine, but allowed four earned runs in the 6-0 loss.

In game two, the Blue Jays were able to get five hits and score a run in the third. Freshman Liz Carthen reached on a throwing error and advanced to second with freshman Bri Peterson’s single. Senior Lori Jones then stepped up to the plate and hit a double, scoring Carthen.

Jones went 2-4 from the plate and had one RBI. Freshman Alyson Hahn (0-2) was credited with the loss after pitching the complete game.

On Wednesday, Jones led-off game one versus Centenary with a double to left field. She then stole third and scored with an error by the catcher, setting the tone for the day.

In the top of the third, the Blue Jays scored four runs. Peterson walked, then stole second. She advanced to third with Jones’ single; Jones advanced to second on the throw. Freshman Allison Biggs singled and advanced to second on the throw, scoring Peterson and advancing Jones to third. Senior Rai’an Harris then singled to center field, scoring Jones and bringing Biggs to third. Harris stole second and Biggs scored on the throw. Harris advanced to third with freshman Anne Baker’s at bat and scored with freshman Alyssa Johnson’s single up the middle.

The Blue Jays scored another run in the fourth with a single by Biggs scoring Jones. In the fifth, Lee stepped up to the plate with Johnson on first and cracked a homerun to left field, grabbing her first homerun of the season and scoring them both.

Centenary scored two in the bottom of the fifth, bringing the Blue Jays’ lead to 8-2. In the top of the sixth, the Blue Jays had their bats swinging. Biggs led-off with a single and moved to second with an illegal pitch. Harris grounded out to shortstop, but moved Biggs to third. Baker then singled down the left field line, scoring Biggs. Johnson and Lee singled, making bases loaded. Sophomore Ashley Flood grounded out to second, but Baker scored on the play. Freshman Charlotte King then singled, scoring Johnson, and Jones singled to  score Lee. The Blue Jays ended the inning with six hits and four runs, bringing the lead to 12-2.

The Blue Jays held Centenary from scoring in the bottom of the sixth, ending the game with a 12-2 win.

Jones tied the game-day record for hits with 5 after going 5-5 from the plate. Lee (6-3) was credited with the win after pitching the complete game. She faced 29 batters and struck out five.

The Blue Jays started game two with two doubles by Biggs and Harris, scoring Jones and Biggs. Lee scored in the second inning after senior Becca Rose singled up the middle, giving the Blue Jays a 3-0 lead heading into the third.

Carthen led-off the fourth with a single to right field and advanced to second with Peterson’s at bat. Jones reached on an error, advancing to second and bringing Carthen to third. Carthen was caught stealing, giving the Blue Jays two outs. Rose was walked, bringing Biggs up to bat. Biggs singled, scoring Jones and advancing Rose to second. Harris then cracked a 3 RBI homerun to left center, grabbing her first homerun of the season and taking a 7-0 lead.

Carthen led-off the fifth with a double. King came in to run for Carthen and scored when Peterson reached on an error. The Blue Jays were unable to score again, but held Centenary from scoring in the bottom of the fifth, short gaming them and winning 8-0.

Hahn (1-1) was credited with her first shutout win of her collegiate career after pitching the complete game. She struck out three, allowed no runs and only allowed three runs. Harris and Carthen both went 2-3 from the plate.

The Blue Jays look to extend their undefeated conference record at Greenville College with a doubleheader this Saturday, March 29. Game one begins at 1:00 p.m.