By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Cleveland, Ohio---Tori Weidinger (Whitmer/Toledo, Ohio) became the first player in program history to hit three home runs in a single game as the No. 9 Owens Community College softball team swept a conference doubleheader on the road against Cuyahoga Community College Wednesday.
Game 1: Owens 3 Cuyahoga 2
Lesley Ducat (Evergreen/Lyons, Ohio) improved to 14-0 in the circle with another complete game victory.
Weidinger got things started for the Express offense with a first inning RBI single that scored Brittany George (Elmwood/Wayne, Ohio).
The lead was pushed to three in the third on back-to-back RBI singles by Emily Rockman (Springfield/Holland, Ohio) and Ducat.
The 3-0 lead would remain the same until Cuyahoga mounted a rally in the seventh off Ducat. They got a sacrifice fly from Amanda Kosik and an RBI double by Abigail Knechtel, but they would strand the tying runner at second when Ducat got Jennifer Pierce to strike out.
Ducat's final line included seven innings, eight hits, two runs, three walks and nine strikeouts. Her strikeout total marked a new season-high, as she surpassed the eight she had against No. 8 Mercyhurst North East on April 1. It was her ninth complete game victory, as well.
Weidinger (2-for-3, R, RBI), George (2-for-3, 2 R) and Ducat (2-for-3, RBI) led the Express offense in the first game.
Kahla Von Bergen (4-5) took the loss for Cuyahoga. She pitched the entire game while allowing eight hits and three runs with four strikeouts.
Game 2: Owens 19 Cuyahoga 0 (Six Innings)
Weidinger's record-setting performance, a complete game victory from Lexi Williams (Home School/Swanton, Ohio) and a 12-run sixth inning carried the Express to victory in the second game.
The Express jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI double from Weidinger, an RBI single by Ducat and a throwing error.
In the third and fifth innings, Weidinger homered. The fifth inning homer was a two-run shot, while the third inning one was of the solo variety. Sandwiched in the middle, Rockman had a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to score Josie Hall (New London/New London, Ohio).
Up 7-0, the Express got a three-run homer from Weidinger, an RBI double from Taylor Miller (Erie Mason/Toledo, Ohio), a two-run single from Alexandra Veres (Cardinal Stritch/Toledo, Ohio) and three-run doubles from George and Hall to take a 19-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Williams (2-2) picked up her first complete game victory this season. The freshman allowed just seven hits while striking out three over six innings.
Weidinger's final offensive line featured five hits in five at bats, five runs scored, a double, three home runs and seven RBIs. Aside from her, George (2-for-3, 3 R, 3 RBIs), Hall (1-for-3, R, 3 RBIs), Ducat (2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, BB) and Miller (2-for-3, R, RBI) also chipped in.
Ciara Zale (4-5) took the loss for Cuyahoga, who fell to 11-11 overall and 1-3 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play with both losses.
Wrap Up
The Express are now 16-2 overall and 6-0 in OCCAC play. They will take on non-league, Region XII foe Oakland Community College at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow at home.
Weidinger finished the day 7-for-8 with three home runs, six runs scored, a double and eight RBIs. She bumped her season average up to .526 with 10 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 17 runs and 30 RBIs in 57 at bats.
George is hitting .509 with eight doubles, two triples, three home runs and 21 RBIs in 53 at bats.