By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Battle Creek, MI---The power of the No. 16 Grand Rapids Community College offense was too much for the No. 17 Express as GRCC upended the Express 11-6 in the Region XII District G winner's bracket semifinal on Wednesday.
In the first, Grand Rapids took an early 2-0 lead on a two out, two-run homer. The Express answered back with an RBI groundout from Amanda Sinay and an RBI single from Katie Butler to tie it up in the bottom half.
Emily Rockman's RBI single through the right side then gave the Express a 3-2 lead in the second before a double steal scored Mareshah Scott in the third to make it a two-run lead.
That's when the Grand Rapids offense took control. Opening the fourth, GRCC got a leadoff single, a two-run home run, a solo home run and a sacrifice fly to take a 6-4 lead.
Neither team scored until the sixth when GRCC added two more on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single down the left field line to take an 8-4 lead.
Rockman then pulled the Express within two with a two-run home run to left center in the bottom half.
Express starter Katilyn Turski nearly escaped big damage in the seventh, but GRCC got a three-run double with two outs to break the game open.
Scott singled to lead off the bottom half, but was stranded at third to end the game.
Stat Leaders
Rockman finished 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. It was her third home run of the season and her first since the spring trip to Myrtle Beach.
Scott (2-for-4, run) and Sinay (2-for-4, run, RBI) also picked up multiple-hit performances.
GRCC's offense out-hit the Express 13-10, and produced three big home runs.
Turski (17-8) went the distance for the Express. She allowed 13 hits, 11 runs and two walks while striking out five.
Meanwhile, Kayla Goodwin (8-8) picked up the win for GRCC in relief. She went four innings and allowed four hits, two runs and zero walks while striking out two. Rusty Slimmen started and allowed six hits, four runs (two earned) and three walks with one strikeout in her three innings.
Notes
With the loss, the Express fall to 21-16 this season. They drop into the loser's bracket to take on Muskegon Community College at 12 p.m. on Thursday.
Should the Express win tomorrow's first game, they will take on the winner of Ancilla Collage and Lansing Community College at 2 p.m.
Make sure to follow our Twitter page (@owensexpress) for live game updates of the game(s), as well as the Express baseball team.