By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, Ohio---Tori Weidinger (Whitmer/Toledo, Ohio) blasted two home runs to help the Owens Community College softball team power its way past Walsh University JV in a doubleheader sweep at home today.
Weidinger finished 5-for-8 with three runs, six RBI, two doubles and two home runs.
Both teams combined for 45 runs, 59 hits, 18 doubles, three triples and and six home runs.
In the first game, Jacey Gray (Springfield/Holland, Ohio) went a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate, while Lexi Williams (Home School/Swanton, Ohio) picked up the win in relief.
The high scoring affair was started with two runs from Walsh in the top of the first off Owens starter Lesley Ducat (Evergreen/Lyons, Ohio), but her offense answered back with four runs in the home half to take the lead.
The Owens rally included RBI doubles by Gray and Brittany George (Elmwood/Wayne, Ohio), a sacrifice fly by Emily Young (Maumee/Maumee, Ohio) and an RBI single by Josie Hall (New London/New London, Ohio).
In the second, Owens added two more on an RBI triple from Makayla Burtscher (Bedford/Temperance, Mich.) and another RBI double from Gray.
In the third, however, Walsh chased Ducat with three straight run scoring extra base hits, but Williams entered and stopped the rally by stranding two in scoring position.
A fielder's choice RBI by Young and a two-run home run to right by Weidinger added three runs for Owens in the fourth. Then, a fielding error and another two-run homer, this one by George, gave Owens a 12-5 lead through five.
Walsh scored a run in the sixth, but got nothing else off Williams, who improved to 3-3 in the circle this year with the win. She allowed just six hits, one run and one walk over 4.1 innings, while striking out one. Ducat allowed seven hits, five runs and one walk over 2.2 innings.
Maggie Murphy took the loss for Walsh. The starter allowed eight hits and six runs in one plus innings. Kaycie Brown threw the final five plus innings. She allowed six hits, six runs and three walks.
The Owens offense produced four doubles, a triple and two home runs in the first game, along with four stolen bases. Aside from Gray, Owens got multi-hit games from Burtscher, George, Weidinger, Hall and Lyndi Winzeler (Whitmer/Toledo, Ohio).
In the second game, Weidinger powered Owens to a 17-10 win as the sophomore first baseman finished 3-for-5 with two runs, two doubles, a home run and four RBI.
Paige Younker (Wilmington/Port William, Ohio) also added four hits and three runs, and Owens plated nine runs on nine hits in the fourth inning to break open a 5-2 game.
Owens nearly ended the game after five, but Walsh responded with eight runs in the fifth after the nine run Owens rally.
Weidinger and Young had RBI hits in the first as Owens scored three times. In the third, those two struck again Weidinger hit a solo homer and Young grabbed a sacrifice fly. Then, in the fourth, Owens got five RBI doubles, a sacrifice fly from Ericca Herzog (Southview/Sylvania, Ohio) and an RBI hit from George. In fact, George had an RBI double, as well, in the inning.
In the home half of the fifth, Owens got an RBI single from Gray and a couple errors from Walsh to score the game's final three runs.
Walsh's eight-run fifth included a solo home run by Jordan Monnnot, a pair of two-run home runs by Danni Murtaugh and Murphy, as well as a pair of two-run doubles and an RBI single. Monnot had two run scoring hits in the inning.
Ducat (7-4) picked up the win. She started and closed the game around a relief appearance from Willliams in the fifth. Her final line included 6.1 innings, 10 hits, six runs (five earned) and four walks. She also struck out nine Walsh batters. Williams allowed four hits and four runs in two-thirds of an inning.
Becca Bode took the loss for Walsh. She allowed 12 hits, 11 runs and four walks in 3.1 innings of work. Murphy also pitched and allowed six hits, six runs and one walk in 2.2 innings.
In the second game, Owens had seven players record a multi-hit game including Younker with four and Weidinger with three, as well as Burtscher, Gray, George, Hall and Young with two each. Young, who had three RBI in the second game, added two sacrifice flies, while Hall had a sacrifice bunt in the second game.
Looking Forward
Owens is now 11-11 overall this year. They are scheduled to travel to Macomb Community College on Friday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader. It marks the beginning of eight straight games on the road before returning home April 3 against Sinclair Community College.
Overall
With another solid game today, George is now leading the team in batting average (.439), doubles (6), triples (6) and RBI (24). Burtscher (27) and Gray (22) lead the team in stolen bases, while Burtscher also leads the team with 21 hits. Weidinger (3) leads in home runs, while Younker has a team-high nine walks. Aside from George, Burtscher (.437) and Weidinger (.417) are the other two lineup regulars hitting over .400.