Softball Continues Conference Streak With Sweep Over Blackburn

The Westminster softball team extends their win streak to four with a conference sweep over Blackburn College Saturday afternoon. The Westminster Blue Jays took game one, 6-2, and went on to win game two, 6-5. They are now 4-0 in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) and 5-3 overall.

After a scoreless first inning to start game one, the Blue Jays came out strong in the second to bring the lead to 4-0. Senior Brittany Lee led-off with a single and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Freshman Madison McKindley then singled, moving Lee to third. Freshman Alyssa Johnson hit a sacrifice bunt to move McKindley to second, and freshman Bri Peterson singled to score Lee and McKindley; Peterson was able to advance to third on the play. Senior Lori Jones reached on an error, but scored Peterson and advanced to third. Jones was brought in by senior Becca Rose’s single. The Blue Jays hit a pop up and was caught stealing to end the inning.

Blackburn was able to score a run in the top of the third and the fifth, but the Blue Jays answered back in the bottom of the fifth with a sacrifice fly by Lee to score Rose.

With bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, Rose stepped up to the plate. She grounded out to second, but scored Johnson. The Blue Jays ended the top of the seventh, three up, three down, to win the game 6-2.

Lee (4-2) was credited with the win after pitching the complete game. Rose and Peterson finished with two RBI each. Senior Rai’an Harris finished with 14 putouts and freshman Anne Baker and Peterson finished with five assists apiece.

The Blue Jays opened up the second game with a double by Jones. She was moved to third with a sacrifice bunt by Rose and brought in when Blackburn’s center fielder dropped Harris’ fly.

The second inning was three up, three down for both teams, but Blackburn managed to grab three runs in the third and another in the fourth to take the 4-1 lead.

Freshman Allison Biggs led-off in the bottom of the fourth with a single, and Harris followed with a double to score Biggs. Baker singled, moving Harris to third, and Johnson hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Harris. The Blue Jays were unable to score again, ending the inning with them down 4-3.

Blackburn added another run in the sixth to take the 5-3 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, the Blue Jays rallied to pull the lead. Harris singled and freshman Charlotte King went in to run for her. Baker reached on an error and King advanced to second. Lee cracked a double, scoring King and advancing Baker to third. Blackburn’s second baseman made another error, letting Johnson reach first and Baker score the tying run. Freshman Liz Carthen then grounded out to second, but scored Lee to take the 6-5 lead.

The Blue Jays went three up, three down to end Blackburn’s chance to score in the top of the seventh, ending the game with a 6-5 win.

Lee (5-2) was credited with the win. She pitched 4.2 innings and struck out three. Alyson Hahn pitched the first 2.1 innings and struck out three. Harris went 2-3 from the plate, scored once and had two RBI.

The Blue Jays host Wartburg College on Sunday, March 23, to round out their home game series. Game one begins at 2:00 p.m. at the Blue Jay Field.