By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Myrtle Beach, SC---The Express softball team suffered their first defeat of the season on Friday, an 8-6 decision to Monroe College (NY), but the pitching of Ashlyn Michalak helped the Express defeat St. Joseph's College 2-0 and finish their spring trip in winning fashion.

March 9: Monroe College (NY) 8 Owens 6

A four-run seventh inning by the Express wasn't enough as Monroe College's Yamaris Clemente belted two home runs and knocked in five runs.

Clemente, a relative of MLB Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, singled and scored in the first inning, hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, and hit a grand slam in the fifth to cap a five run inning.

The Express had taken a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first. Mareshah Scott singled to lead off the inning, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sydney Barron, and scored on an RBI single from Jaylee Glad.

Thanks in part to Clemente, Monroe took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half off Express starter Lexi Sheets.

Then, Glad helped the Express tied it up in the third. She singled to third base leading off, advanced to second on an error, and scored on an RBI single by Tayler Redinger.

Clemente hit her solo home run in the fourth to put her team back up 3-2 before her team added their big fifth inning to take an 8-2 lead.

In the seventh, the Express attempted to rally. With one out, Glad and Hannah Morrison singled and advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Redinger then knocked Glad in with a sacrifice fly. After a walk by Katlyn Whitmarsh, Melanie Iacoangeli singled to knock in Morrison and make it 8-4. Two passed balls then allowed Whitmarsh and Iacoangeli to score, but Michelle Hollister grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game.

Glad, making her first start, led the Express at the plate. She went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Hollister, Scott and Hallie Thompson each added two hits, and Redinger finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs.

Sheets (3-1) took the loss. She went 4.1 innings and allowed four hits, seven runs and three walks while striking out two. Kasey Graham relieved her with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth. After allowing the grand slam to Clemente, she settled down and allowed three hits and one run while striking out two over 1.2 innings.

Clemente finished 3-for-5 with three runs and five RBIs, while Danielle Neil got the win for Monroe. She went all seven innings, while allowing 12 hits, six runs (four earned) and two walks while striking out five.

The Express left nine runners on base compared to only one for Monroe, while also having five more hits (12-7).

March 9: Owens 2 St. Joseph's College 0

Scott and Katie Butler each scored one run, while Michalak pitched her third complete game shutout as the Express defeated St. Joseph's College 2-0 in the day's second game to close their spring trip.

In the second inning, Butler singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice by Redinger, and scored on a single by Iacoangeli plus a throwing error by the third baseman to put Owens up 1-0. Then, in the third, Scott singled with one out, stole second and scored on a single by Tabitha Britt plus another throwing error by the third baseman to put Owens up 2-0.

That was all Michalak needed as she went the distance while allowing only five hits and two walks while striking out eight. She faced trouble only once when back-to-back-to-back singles loaded the bases in the fourth. However, she got a line drive out to Butler at first and a 1-3 groundout to end the threat. The sophomore struck out two batters in one inning three times against St Joseph's.

Michalak lowered her season ERA to 0.23, as she is now 4-0 with two saves. In 31 innings, she has allowed only 14 hits, two runs (one earned) and four walks. She has struck out 58 batters and only allowed two extra base hits. Additionally, she has went the last 26.2 innings without allowing a run.

Iacoangeli led the Express at the plate as she finished 2-for-3 with two stolen bases. As a team, the Express produced seven hits compared to five for St. Joseph's.

Cassie Martinez took the loss for St. Joseph's. She allowed seven hits, two runs (one earned) and zero walks while striking out one over seven innings.

Notes

- The Express closed their spring trip 8-1. They will be back in action at home on March 19 against Defiance College JV beginning at 4 p.m.

- Hollister, who has started all nine games for Owens, is leading the team with a .478 batting average. She is 11-for-23 with eight runs, three doubles, three stolen bases, one home run, three walks, 17 total bases and six RBIs.

- Morrison, in five games played, is hitting .455 with a team-high seven RBIs, while Iacoangeli is hitting .467 in eight games played including a team-high seven stolen bases.

- Michalak has been, possibly, the most efficient pitcher in the nation thus far. She is leading the nation in strikeouts per inning and is sixth in overall strikeouts, but has about as half as many innings as the five ahead of her. She also has the sixth best ERA, but has more than twice the innings pitched of the five ahead of her.

- With their basketball season ending this past weekend, Aja Hall and Alyssa Lassey will join the Express softball team.