By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Myrtle Beach, S.C.---The Express softball team pounded out 12 extra base hits while picking up two more wins during their spring trip today.
Game 1: Owens 11 Lincoln Trail College 2 (5 Innings)
The top three players in the Express lineup combined for eight RBIs, six hits and five runs as the Express cruised to easy win in today's first game.
Leadoff hitter Emily Morrow (Monroe Jefferson/Newport, Mich.) startd the game with a home run before the Express scored four more runs in each of the next two innings.
In the second, Morrow had a bases loaded walk to make it 2-0 before 3-hole hitter Brittany George (Elmwood/Wayne, Ohio) had a bases loaded, three-run double to break the game open.
Two hitter Molly Gast (Sylvania Southview/Toledo, Ohio) had a two-run single in the third inning, while the other two runs scored on a passed ball and a throwing error.
Lincoln Trail's Olivia Titus produced her team's only runs on a two-run double in the third inning before the Express added two more runs in the fifth.
Gast had a run scoring double to left that scored Morrow, and Emily Rockman (Springfield/Holland, Ohio) had a sacrifice fly to make it 11-2.
Morrow (1-for-4, 4 R, 2 RBIs, 3 BB), Gast (2-for-4, R, 3 RBIs) and George (3-for-4, 3 RBIs) led the Express offensively, while Lesley Ducat (Evergreen/Lyons, Ohio) picked up her fourth win in the circle.
Ducat (4-0) went all five innings while allowing four hits, two runs and one walk. She struck out six, and she also finished 2-for-2 with a walk and two runs offensively.
Along with Morrow's homer, George had two doubles,while Gast, Ducat and Josie Hall (New London/New London, Ohio) each added one double. Morrow, Gast and Hall each added a stolen base, as well.
Titus led Lincoln Trail offensively as the catcher went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Patience Tincher took the loss in the circle.
Game 2: Owens 10 Southeastern Community College - Whiteville 7
Tori Weidinger (Whitmer/Toledo, Ohio) had a monster game at the plate as the Express earned a come from behind win over SECC-Whiteville in the second game.
The Express broke through first in the second inning. Morrow had a two-run triple in the inning before later scoring on a passed ball to make it 3-0.
In the fourth, Weidinger hit the first of her two home runs in the game with a solo shot to make it 4-0.
SECC-Whiteville responded with six runs in the top of the fourth.
Lexi Williams (Home School/Swanton, Ohio), who started the game in the circle for the Express, allowed three singles and two walks to lead off the inning before Ducat replaced her. Following a fielding error at second base, Ducat allowed a walk and a single before settling down and minimizing the damage.
In the bottom half, George and Rockman had back-to-back RBI hits to tie the game before Weidinger blasted a two-run double to center that gave the Express the lead back for good. George's hit was a single that scored Gast, who singled with two outs and no one on to start the rally. Rockman's RBI triple then scored George.
In the sixth, Weidinger blasted a two-run homer that scored Rockman, who doubled to lead off the inning.
SECC-Whiteville scored a run on a double and two wild pitches in the seventh for the final margin.
Weidinger (3-for-5, 2 R, 5 RBIs), Rockman (2-for-3, 2 R, RBI, BB), Gast (2-for-3, R, BB) and Morrow (1-for-4, R, 2 RBI) led the Express offense.
Along with Weidinger's double and two homers, Rockman had a double and a triple, and Morrow had a triple. Hall had the only stolen base for the Express.
In the circle, Ducat moved to 5-0 with her second win in relief this year. She allowed three hits, three runs (one earned) and one walk in 3.2 innings. She struck out one.
Before exiting, Williams allowed five hits, four runs and two walks in 3.1 innings. She struck out three.
Robin Coleman (3-for-4, 2 R, RBI) led SECC-Whiteville at the plate, while Abbey Walters took the loss in the circle for SECC-Whiteville.
Upcoming Schedule
The Express (6-0) will take on Rosemont College at 9:30 a.m. and SECC-Whiteville at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow before closing out their spring trip with two games against Pitt Community College on Friday.
Notes
The Express have now scored 10 or more runs in four of their past five games. They are averaging 11.8 runs per game over their first six contests.
Gast is now leading the team with a .526 batting average, with Morrow (.500) and George (.455) just behind her. Weidinger now has a team-high 10 RBIs, while Rockman (9) and George (8) are just behind. Morrow leads the team with 10 runs.
Through the season's first six games, the Express have 23 extra base hits, which is just over one-fourth of the total they had all of last year.
The Express are now 2-0 against Lincoln Trail this year.