By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Cleveland, OH---The No. 8 Express softball team got back to their winning ways with a doubleheader sweep of Cuyahoga Community College on Saturday, 13-6 and 6-0.
After suffering their first loss to Lakeland Community College on Wednesday, the Express have now set up a rematch against Lakeland with the OCCAC title on the line. Both Owens and Lakeland are 5-1 in the conference.
Game 1: Owens 13 Cuyahoga 6
The Express jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Kristen Roznoski (Cardinal Stritch/Toledo, Ohio) led off with a walk. After being sacrificed to second by Ashleigh Whitacre (Central Catholic/Toledo, Ohio), Roznoski scored on a one out RBI double by Lindsey Bandeen (Springfield/Holland, Ohio).
Then, in the bottom of the inning, Cuyahoga came back to take a 2-1 lead. After the leadoff hitter singled, the next two batters struck out. Then, Tri-C's four and five hitters hit back-to-back RBI doubles off Express starter Jordan Ratliff (Summerfield/Petersburg, Mich.).
The Express then scored ten runs over the next four innings – including at least one run in each of those innings – two of which included four runs.
In the fifth, the Express got hits from Courtney Mowery (Genoa/Genoa, Ohio), Allison Hausch (Bryan/Bryan, Ohio), Roznoski, Bandeen, and Kristen Shock (Northview/Toledo, Ohio). It was Shock's first hit of the season. After sitting out most of the season, she is now 1-3 this season.
Ratliff went the first four innings to pick up the win and move to 16-1 this year. She allowed four hits and two runs while striking out three. Courtney Parr (Margaretta/Castalia, Ohio) pitched the final three innings.
Alaina Haubert (Gibsonburg/Gibsonburg, Ohio) went 3-for-4 with three doubles, two runs, an intentional walk, and an RBI. With her three doubles, she tied Heather Post's school record for doubles in a season with 19.
Bandeen added a 3-for-3 performance that included three singles, a hit by pitch, and two RBIs. Roznoski went 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs and an RBI.
Mowery went 2-for-3 off the bench. Overall, as a team, the Express hit 18-for-35.
Cacey Rose picked up the loss for Cuyahoga.
Game 2: Owens 6 Cuyahoga 0
In a game shortened to two and a half innings by rain, the Express defeated Cuyahoga 6-0 behind nine hits in their three at bats.
In the first inning, Roznoski singled and stole second to lead off. Whitacre then doubled down the left field line to score Roznoski. Whitacre scored on a double by Haubert, who then scored on a single by Bandeen.
Bandeen was thrown out trying to stretch her single into a double. After a single by Bridget Wolfe (Bellevue/Bellevue, Ohio), Matea Rice (Clay/Oregon, Ohio) and Kelley Molloy (Whitmer/Toledo, Ohio) were hit by pitches to load the bases. Hausch then hit into a fielder's choice to score Wolfe. The next batter, Michelle Hollister (Airport/Newport, Mich.) popped out to short to end the inning.
Haubert's double set a new school record for doubles in a season with 20 after she tied it in the first game. She is also nearing the single season RBI record. She had five extra base hits on the day in her six at bats - including an intentional walk.
Express starter Elizabeth Weber (Oak Harbor/Oak Harbor, Ohio) then allowed a leadoff single in the first, but nothing else. She faced six more batters and struck out five of them.
In the second, Roznoski lined out to begin the inning before Whitacre singled to left field. She then scored on an RBI triple by Haubert.
In the third, Rice doubled to lead off the inning. Sydney Barron (Jefferson/Monroe, Mich.) then pinch ran for her. Molloy then singled on a bunt. Hollister later knocked in Barron on an RBI groundout for the game's final run before the rain came.
Weber (2-0) picked up the win, while Rose again picked up the loss. Ultimately, Cuyahoga forfeited the second game because there is no time to make up the games and their field wasn't playable after the rain.
Owens is now 35-1 (5-1 OCCAC).