By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Myrtle Beach, SC---Katilyn Turski threw a solid game against Delta College today to help the No. 19 Express softball team split a pair of games.
In defeating Delta College 5-3 and losing to No. 17 CCBC-Catonsville 8-0, the Express softball team completed their 10 game spring trip with a 5-5 record.
Game 1: No. 19 Owens 5 Delta College 3
The Express earned a come from behind victory in today's first game due to clutch hitting from Molly Gast and Emily Rockman, as well as a solid pitching performance from Turski.
Turski struggled early as she allowed a pair of triples and a double in the first inning, but escaped big damage and allowed only two runs.
In the bottom half, leadoff hitter Melanie Iacoangeli walked, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an error to cut the deficit to 2-1.
In the third, Delta used a run scoring single to improve its lead to 3-1. Two innings later, Gast and Rockman delivered clutch hits.
With two outs and runners on second and third, Gast lined a shot to left field for a two-run single. The next batter, Rockman, roped a shot over the centerfielder's head for a go-ahead RBI double.
In the sixth, Tyniesha Wilson continued her hot offensive streak with an RBI double to left center to give the Express their final victory margin.
Turski went the distance to move to 3-2 this year. She allowed three runs (two earned), 10 hits and two walks while striking out two over seven innings.
Wilson finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Iacoangeli was 1-for-3 with two runs and a walk. Gast finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs, and Reeder was 1-for-2 with a run and a double.
With a hit in today's first at bat, Wilson recorded her ninth consecutive hit in nine at bats. She had a hit in her final at bat on Tuesday and a hit in all seven at bats on Wednesday. Thus, she finished the game with hits in 10 of her past 11 at bats thanks to her sixth inning double.
Game 2: No. 17 CCBC Catonsville 8 No. 19 Owens 0
CCBC Catonsville picked up their first win in three spring tries against the Express in today's final game.
The Express were held to three hits as a team, while CCBC's Erin Pronobi and Hunter Long knocked the ball around on Express starter, Gast.
Long finished 4-for-4 with two runs, while Pronobi was 3-for-5 with a run and four RBIs.
Alyssa Lassey, who picked up a first inning double, Katie Butler and Mareshah Scott had the only hits for the Express.
Butler and Scott picked up their hits in the second inning. Butler lined a shot off the top of the centerfield wall, the ball bounced straight in the air and fell on the warning track for a triple. Scott then got a rare infield double to put runners on second and third with one out, but Amanda Sinay struck out and Wilson flew out to center.
The Express offense only had one runner reach following the second inning, and that occurred when pinch hitter Taylor Miller was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning.
CCBC scored four in the second, three in the fifth and one in the seventh for all of their scoring.
Gast went the distance for the Express, while picking up her first decision (L, 0-1) this year. She allowed 15 hits, eight runs (five earned) and two walks with five strikeouts over seven innings.
The Express offense had eight strikeouts.
Notes
The No. 19 Express (5-5) were scheduled to have an off day on Friday before playing one game on Saturday. However, that game was canceled today.
Thus, the Express will next play on March 16 against rival Muskegon Community College. The home opening doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
All games were played at Grand Park at Market Commons.
