By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, Ohio---The No. 13 Owens Community College softball team flexed their offensive muscle in two big wins over Lakeland Community College today.
The games marked the beginning of Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play for Owens.
Game 1: Owens 12 Lakeland 1 (5 Innings)
Tori Weidinger (Whitmer/Toledo, Ohio) blasted a three-run homer to straight center in the first inning, which started an offensive onslaught for the Express in today's first game.
After Weidinger's blast, the Express got a fourth run in the inning on an RBI groundout from Lesley Ducat (Evergreen/Lyons, Ohio).
After a scoreless second, the Express added six more runs in the third. Weidinger walked and later scored on a wild pitch, Josie Hall (New London/New London, Ohio) had a two-run triple and Molly Gast (Sylvania Southview/Toledo, Ohio) had a bases loaded, bases clearing double to complete the damage.
In the fourth, the Express tacked on two more runs via an RBI grounder from Haley Hudgin (Ida/Ida, Mich.) and an RBI double by Hall.
Ducat started and went the first four innings for the Express as she picked up her 10th win in the circle this year. She allowed just three hits, while walking none and striking out six. She allowed one unearned run.
Emily Morrow (Monroe Jefferson/Newport, Mich.) pitched the final ining and allowed one hit and one walk before striking out the final batter of the game.
Courtney Sabo (2-2) took the loss for Lakeland. She allowed six hits, 12 runs (11 earned) and eight walks with one strikeout. Nobody for the Lakers had more than one hit offensively as Ducat and Morrow limited them to four total.
Gast (1-for-3, 2B, 3 RBIs), Weidinger, 1-for-2, HR, 2 R, 3 RBIs) and Hall (2-for-3, R, 2B, 3B, 3 RBIs) led the Express offense in the first tilt.
Game 2: Owens 10 Lakeland 2 (5 Innings)
The Express used a nine run fourth inning to capture a come from behind win in today's second game.
The Express offense had struck first on a Weidinger RBI double that scored Brittany George (Elmwood/Wayne, Ohio) in the first inning.
Lakeland scored single runs in the second and third inning off Express starter Lexi Williams (Home School/Swanton, Ohio) to take a 2-1 lead.
After Ducat entered in relief in the top of the fourth and struck out the side, the Express offense seemed to be rejuvenated. After a groundout to second by Emily Rockman (Springfield/Holland, Ohio) to open the inning, the Express had 10 straight batters reach base on a hit or a walk.
During that stretch, the Express got an RBI double from Hall, RBI singles by Taylor Miller (Erie Mason/Toledo, Ohio) and Ashtin Staler (Swanton/Swanton, Ohio), a two-run double from Weidinger, an RBI double from Rockman and two runs on wild pitches.
After registering her fourth straight strikeout to open the fifth, Ducat got a spectacular catch from Hudgin in centerfield for the second out. Lakeland's Shayla Purnell then flew out to Staler in right field for the final out.
Ducat (11-0) picked up her fifth win in three days, this time in relief. She allowed just one hit while striking out four in her two innings. Williams, who went the first three innings, allowed four hits, two runs and one walk with four strikeouts.
Chantel Smithberger (0-1) took the loss for Lakeland. She allowed seven hits, 10 runs and eight walks in four innings.
Weidinger finished 2-for-3 with one run, two doubles and three RBIs in the second game. Hall added a 1-for-2 game with one run, a double, a walk and two RBIs.
Wrap Up
The Express are now 12-2 overall and 2-0 in the OCCAC this year. They are scheduled to host Jackson College at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow - pending expected rain.
Notes
Lakeland pitching allowed 16 walks in today's doubleheader, led by five alone from George. In fact, George didn't have an official at bat in the second game, but scored two runs.
The duo of Weidinger and Hall combined for 6-for-10, five runs, four doubles, one triple and 11 RBIs in today's doubleheader.