By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Kirtland, Ohio---The Owens Community College softball team flexed its muscle to pick up a pair of wins on the road against Lakeland Community College to open conference play today.
Game 1: Owens 5 Lakeland 1
Lakeland out-hit Owens 7-2, but Owens made those two hits count in today's first game.
The game was scoreless until the fourth when Owens rallied for all of its runs. Brittany George (Elmwood/Wayne, Ohio) walked and scored on an RBI double from Tori Weidinger (Whitmer/Toledo, Ohio) to start the rally.
Later in the inning, Paige Younker (Wilmington/Port William, Ohio) walked and Christina Huffman (Monroe/Monroe, Mich.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The next batter, Lesley Ducat (Evergreen/Lyons, Ohio) cranked a grand slam over the wall in left center to put Owens up 5-0.
Lakeland added its lone run of the game in the sixth when Kaitlyn Laseke's infield single scored a runner from third.
Ducat, who picked up her 30th career win in the circle with her complete game, also starred at the plate as she finished 1-for-3 with her grand slam. Among those at bats, she also had a line drive out in her first at bat to deep right center.
Aside from the team's two hits, George, Younker and Huffman also reached base with one walk apiece.
Ducat (9-5) allowed seven hits and one run while striking out eight in the game. She is now 30-9 in her career with a 3.21 ERA. She lowered her ERA this year to 3.43.
Taylor Wawrowski took the loss for Lakeland after allowing one hit, three runs and two walks in 3.1 innings. Tayler Gustin and Lydia Baldau also saw action in the circle.
Game 2: Owens 4 Lakeland 1
Weidinger blasted a three-run home run to key a 4-1 win in today's second game.
Neither team put across a run until the third, which is when Owens got its big hit from Weidinger. With one out, George walked and Jacey Gray (Springfield/Holland, Ohio) put down a bunt single to put a pair of runners on for Weidinger, who put the first pitch she saw over the centerfield fence for a 3-0 lead.
In the fourth, Owens had a chance to tack on some runs, but got back-to-back outs with the bases loaded to end the inning.
In the home half of the fourth, Lakeland got a pair of doubles to chase Ducat, who also started the second game. Sam Fowls (Maumee/Maumee, Ohio) entered in relief and got a fly out to left to end the inning without further damage.
Owens added an insurance run in the seventh thanks to the speed of Gray, who singled on a bunt to lead off the inning. Weidinger singled on the next pitch, putting runners on first and second. Cassidy Rolf (Eastwood/Pemberville, Ohio) pinch ran for Weidinger and pulled off a double steal with Gray. On the play, Lakeland's catcher threw errantly into left, allowing Gray to score and put Owens up 4-1.
Fowls (3-4) walked two batters in the seventh, but struck out Kandis Laseke looking to end the game and pick up in the win in relief. She allowed just one hit with three walks while striking out three in 3.1 innings.
Ducat went the first 3.2 innings. She allowed three hits, one run and one walk while striking out two and finished the day with 10 strikeouts.
Weidinger finished the second game 2-for-4 with a run and three RBI thanks in large part to her fifth home run of the season. Gray went 3-for-4 with two runs and a stolen base. Rolf stole her first base of the season. Makayla Burtscher (Bedford/Temperance, Mich.) added a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.
Notes
Owens has now won 9 of its past 10 games. They improved to 18-12 overall and 2-0 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play with the wins.
Ducat is now leading the team in batting average at 11-for-23 (.478), while Weidinger (.417), Burtscher (.414) and George (.404) are also hitting over .400. Gray (.398) is approaching .400.
Today was the fourth straight day Owens has played, and they are 7-1 in eight games over that stretch.