By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Macomb, Mich.---The Owens Community College softball team split a pair of one run games against Macomb Community College on the road today.
Game 1: Macomb 2 Owens 1 (8 Innings)
Josie Hall (New London/New London, Ohio) hit a game-tying RBI single up the middle in the seventh inning to tie the game, but Owens dropped a 2-1 decision to Macomb in today's first game in extra innings.
Macomb took a 1-0 lead in the third via a two-out double, and neither team scored again until Hall's two-out single in the seventh to tie the game.
In the bottom of the seventh, Macomb loaded the bases with one out, but a put out at the plate and a fly out to right ended the threat.
With international tiebreaker rules, Owens popped up two bunts to lead off the eighth before failing to score. In the home half, Macomb advanced its runner to third on a passed ball with no outs. Following two intentional walks, an RBI single through the left side ended the game.
Each team's starting pitchers had strong performances while going the distance. Lesley Ducat (Evergreen/Lyons, Ohio) went the distance, allowing five hits, two runs (one earned) and five walks. She struck out five, while falling to 7-5 this year.
On the other side, Carrie Chamberlain went eight innings, while allowing five hits, one run (zero earned) and one walk. She struck out two and improved to 9-1 this year.
Five players had one hit apiece for Owens, while Jacey Gray (Springfield/Holland, Ohio) had the only extra base hit with a first inning double.
Game 2: Owens 5 Macomb 4
A three-run fifth inning catapulted Owens to a 5-4 win in the second game.
In the third inning, Breanna Buck (Springfield/Holland, Ohio) hit her first collegiate homer with a solo shot to left field that gave Owens a 1-0 lead.
Macomb responded with two runs in the top half of the fourth, but Owens tied it up in the home half with an RBI double to right center by Paige Younker (Wilmington/Port Williams, Ohio).
In the fifth, Makayla Burtscher (Bedford/Temperance, Mich.) led off the inning with a solo home run to right, which was also her first collegiate home run.
The rally didn't stop there as Brittany George (Elmwood/Wayne, Ohio) followed with a double to right field. On the next at bat, Gray hustled out a bunt single. On the play, the throw to first was errant, allowing George to score and put Owens up 4-2.
After a bloop single from Tori Weidinger (Whitmer/Toledo, Ohio) that put runners on the corners, Younker produced her second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to center for a 5-2 lead.
Macomb kept pushing and added two unearned runs in the sixth inning to chase Owens starter Lexi Williams (Home School/Swanton, Ohio). Ducat entered in relief and stranded a runner at third to end the inning.
In the seventh, Macomb put runners on second and third with one out, but Ducat picked up a strikeout and a fly out to Buck in left to end the game.
Williams improved to 5-3 with the win. She allowed eight hits, four runs (two earned) and one walk over five plus innings. Ducat didn't allow a hit or a run while walking two and striking out two over two plus innings to pick up her first save of the season.
Gray (2-for-3, two runs) and George (2-for-3) led Owens in hits, while Younker finished 1-for-2 with two RBI.
Jess England took the loss for Macomb. She allowed five hits, three runs and one walk in 4.1 innings.
Notes
The doubleheader was originally supposed to be played at Owens, but was switched to Macomb due to unplayable field conditions at Owens. Thus, the teams decided to have Macomb be the home team the first game, while Owens was the home team the second game.
Owens is now 14-12 overall this year, while Macomb is 20-5.
Owens is scheduled to host Cuyahoga Community College at home tomorrow beginning at 3:30 p.m.