By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Myrtle Beach, SC---The Express got two dominant pitching performances and a key home run from Tayler Redinger to open their season with two wins today.
Game 1: Owens 8 CCBC-Catonsville 5
Down 5-0 after the first inning, Redinger capped a comeback with a two-run blast in the top of the seventh to give the Express the 8-5 victory.
In the top of the first, Express starter Kasey Graham struggled to control her pitches due to heavy winds and allowed five runs, although four of them were unearned due to an error. Lexi Sheets relieved her to begin the second, found a groove, and shut out CCBC the rest of the way.
In her six innings, Sheets didn't allow any hits and only walked two while striking out seven. She only faced two over the minimum. It was her first collegiate appearance.
Buoyed by the pitching of Sheets and some CCBC fielding errors, the Express offense then started chipping away at the deficit by scoring two in the second, one in the third, one in the fifth, one in the sixth and three in the seventh.
In the second inning, Olivia Reeder singled and back-to-back errors by CCBC allowed Reeder and Hallie Thompson to score. Thompson had reached on the first error. In the third, Mareshah Scott and Tabitha Britt singled to lead off the inning. Later, Scott scored on a passed ball.
Then, in the fifth, Sydney Barron laced an RBI double to center that scored Scott, who had singled on a bunt to lead off the inning. In the sixth, Reeder walked with one out and later scored on a CCBC error.
The Express then broke a five-all game with three runs in the seventh. Barron doubled to left field with one out. Katie Butler then lined a single down the right field line to score Melanie Iacoangeli, who pinch ran for Barron, to give the Express a 6-5 lead. Then, Redinger hit a two-run homer to left field that scored Kenny Craig, who pinch ran for Butler.
Sheets then pitched around a throwing error in the bottom half while shutting down CCBC to close out the game.
Scott and Barron led the Express at the plate. Scott went 2-for-4 with two runs in her first collegiate game, while Barron went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two doubles. Reeder joined Scott to lead the team in runs scored with two apiece.
Eleni Wright led CCBC (2-1) at the plate as she finished 1-for-2 with a walk and a three run homer.
Cassandra Rogers went the distance for CCBC and took the loss. She allowed eight hits, eight runs (four earned), four walks and four strikeouts.
Click here for a link to a photo album of the win over CCBC-Catonsville.
Game 2: Owens 5 Olney Central 2
The second game of today's doubleheader for the Express was all about Ashlyn Michalak.
The sophomore pitcher broke a school record by striking out 19 batters in seven innings. Only two other outs were recorded - a ground ball back to Michalak in the seventh and a ground ball to second in the sixth.
Aside from that, she only allowed three hits, two runs (one earned) and one walk while facing 26 batters total.
Michalak's only blemish came in the fifth inning when she allowed a one out two-run homer following a fielding error by Thompson at short.
The first 16 Olney Central outs came via a Michalak strikeout. 12 of her 19 strikeouts were swinging.
While Michalak was dealing, Iacoangeli helped lead the Express offense.
In the first, Iacoangeli led off with a single, stole second and scored on a throwing error by Olney Central's Hailey Flexter. Britt, who reached on that error, scored later on a double by Redinger.
In the second, Michelle Hollister doubled and scored on a wild pitch. Iacoangeli then walked, stole second and scored on a Britt single.
Owens then added one more in the fourth when Iacoangeli had an RBI groundout to score Scott, who had singled and stole second with one out.
Iacoangeli finished 1-for-2 with two runs, one RBI, one walk and two stolen bases.
Kayla Kreher took the loss on the mound for Olney Central (3-6). She allowed six hits, five runs (three earned) and one walk, while striking out six over six innings pitched.
Click here for a link to a photo album of the win over Olney Central.
Notes
The Express (2-0) will now take on Olney Central at 9 a.m. tomorrow before battling Southern Vermont College at 11 a.m.