Softball Sweeps Iowa Wesleyan, Starts Conference 2-0

The Westminster softball team opened their conference play with a 2-0 sweep over Iowa Wesleyan College Thursday afternoon. The Westminster Blue Jays shut out the Iowa Wesleyan Tigers 3-0 in game one, and came back in game two to win it 10-6. The Blue Jays are now 3-3 on the season and start their conference play 2-0.

Senior Lori Jones led-off the bottom of the first inning by reaching first base with a Tiger’s error. She advanced to second on the overthrow and moved to third with senior Becca Rose’s sacrifice bunt. Freshman Allison Biggs stepped up to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Jones and earning a RBI.

The Blue Jays scored again in the second inning when freshman Bri Peterson hit a RBI single to score freshman Anne Baker. With bases loaded, the Blue Jays were unable to score again in the inning.

Freshman Madison McKindley led-off in the bottom of the sixth with a double; freshman Liz Carthen replaced McKindley at second. Carthen advanced to third on a ground out and scored on Jones’ RBI double.

The Blue Jays held the Tigers from scoring in the top of the seventh, ending game one with a 3-0 shutout.

Senior Brittany Lee (2-2) earned the win after pitching the complete shutout, striking out nine and only walking one. McKindley went 2-2 from the plate and Peterson went 2-3.

The second game was scoreless until the bottom of the third inning. Peterson singled and then stole second. Jones’ bunted and advanced to second, putting Peterson on third. Rose hit a 2 RBI sacrifice bunt, bringing in Peterson and Jones. Biggs singled and advanced to second with senior Rai’an Harris’ single. Biggs was able to bring the score to 3-0 after the Tiger’s third baseman overthrew first.

The Tigers came out strong in the fourth inning, putting up five runs to take the 5-3 lead. The Blue Jays quickly tied the game at 5 when Rose and Biggs each grabbed a RBI in the bottom of the fourth after scoring Carthen and Peterson.

Baker started off the bottom of the fifth with a single. Lee hit a sacrifice bunt to move Baker to second, and freshman Alyssa Johnson singled to move Baker to third; Johnson advanced to second on the throw. Carthen hit a RBI single to score Baker, moving Johnson to third. Peterson then hit a RBI single to score Johnson. Two fly outs ended the inning with the Blue Jays leading 7-5.

The Blue Jays added three more runs in the sixth inning. Biggs doubled, and Harris singled, moving Biggs to third. A wild pitch scored Biggs and advanced Harris to second. Baker was then hit by the pitch, and Harris and Baker were moved by Lee’s sacrifice bunt. With Harris on third and Baker on second, Johnson stepped up to the plate. She hit a RBI single to score Harris and moved Baker to third. Carthen hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Baker. Johnson attempted to run to second, but was thrown out in the process, ending the inning.

The Tigers scored one run in the seventh, but the Blue Jays ended the inning with a 10-6 game two final score.

Lee (3-2) was credited with the win. Freshman Alyson Hahn pitched the first 3.1 innings, facing 17 batters and striking out four. Biggs went 4-4 from the plate, scoring twice and finished with a RBI. Baker went 2-3 and scored twice. Johnson went 2-3, scoring once and had one RBI.

The Blue Jays will host Blackburn College for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 22. Game one starts at 1:00 p.m.