By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, OH---The No. 8-ranked Express softball team saw their school record 33 game win streak to begin the season end on Tuesday in the second game of a doubleheader to Lakeland Community College.
Game 1: Owens 9 Lakeland 0
The Express jumped on Lakeland C.C. early and often as they scored three runs in three separate innings to get a win in the first game of today's doubleheader.
Jordan Ratliff (Summerfield/Petersburg, Mich.) went the distance, while allowing only three hits to pick up her 15th win. She didn't allow a runner past second base.
Kristen Roznoski (Cardinal Stritch/Toledo, Ohio) singled to lead off the bottom half of the first. After a sacrifice and a flyout, Roznoski stole third and scored on an RBI double to left field by Lindsey Bandeen (Springfield/Holland, Ohio).
Bridget Wolfe (Bellevue/Bellevue, Ohio) then singled to left field scoring Bandeen. She moved to second on the throw home and scored on an RBI single by Matea Rice (Clay/Oregon, Ohio) to make it 3-0.
After Ratliff sent Lakeland down 1-2-3 in the second, the Express added three more in the bottom half. Michelle Hollister (Airport/Newport, Mich.) doubled and Roznoski singled on a bunt to put runners on first and third. A wild pitch scored Hollister and a double to left center by Ashleigh Whitacre (Central Catholic/Toledo, Ohio) scored Roznoski). She later scored on a sacrifice fly by Bandeen.
Each team stranded a runner in the third, but neither scored. Then, in the fourth, the Express scored three more. Roznoski led off with a triple to left field and scored when the throw sailed over the cutoff. Following that, Whitacre walked and Alaina Haubert (Gibsonburg/Gibsonburg, Ohio) singled down the left field line to put runners on first and second.
Bandeen then singled to right center scoring Whitacre before Rice singled down the left field line to score Haubert.
With her team up 9-0, Ratliff allowed a two out single, but nothing else.
Bandeen finished 2-for-2 with two runs, three RBIs, a sacrifice fly and a double, while Roznoski went 3-for-3 with three runs, a triple and two stolen bases. Rice went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
The Express finished the game 12-for-20 at the plate with three doubles, one triple and three walks.
Game 2: Lakeland 4 Owens 3
After coming up with big plays in key situations throughout the first 33 games of the season, the Express didn't have enough magic in the tank to come back against Lakeland in a 4-3 defeat.
Ashlyn Michalak (Springfield/Holland, Ohio) had started the game on the mound, but only faced two batters before getting the hook when those runners reached second and third. Kasey Graham (Clay/Oregon, Ohio) entered and got out of the jam with no runs scored to maintain the lead.
After the Express didn't score in the bottom of the inning, Lakeland then took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on back-to-back two out doubles.
As they've done throughout the season, the Express came back to score two in the bottom half of the third.
Roznoski singled and stole second with one out and scored on a double to left field by Whitacre. Haubert then singled to left field, but Whitacre was thrown out at third for the second out. However, Bandeen came up with a two out RBI single up the middle to put Owens up 2-1.
Express head coach Duane Lanham then brought in Ratliff to pitch, and she set the Lakers down 1-2-3 in the fourth inning. However, Lakeland starter Leah Loga then set the Express down 1-2-3 in the bottom half to set up her team's rally in the top half of the fifth.
Lakeland's Megan Juratovic doubled to lead off before scoring on a single to right field by Abby Santiago. Santiago reached second on a fielding error by Whitacre in right field on the single. After a fly out to centerfield, Megan Passwaiter singled to put runners on first and third. Passwaiter then stole second before a pop out to second base got the second out for Ratliff.
However, Ashley Puscian then got her only hit of the game when she hit a ball deep to center that Roznoski had tip off her glove to give Lakeland a 4-2 lead.
Loga then faced the minimum over the next two innings before the Express almost pulled off a comeback in the seventh.
After Rice grounded out to begin the inning, pinch hitter Tayler Redinger (Fremont Ross/Fremont, Ohio) reached on an error by Lakeland's third baseman. Allison Hausch (Bryan/Bryan, Ohio) then doubled to right center to score pinch runner Kelley Molloy (Whitmer/Toledo, Ohio) and pull the Express within one with one out. However, Hollister popped out and Roznoski grounded out to end the game and the 33 game win streak.
Ratliff (15-1) picked up her first loss in relief, while Loga got the win with her complete game. Lakeland out-hit the Express 8-7, while Owens tied for their lowest run total in a game this season.
Bandeen led the Express at the plate with her 2-for-3 performance that included a double and an RBI. She was the only player with more than one hit for Owens.
Notes:
The Express are now scheduled to take on Oakland C.C. in a home doubleheader on Friday at 3 p.m. before traveling to Cuyahoga C.C. on Saturday. They have a rematch with Lakeland on the road Sunday to finish the regular season. Both Owens and Lakeland are now 3-1 in the OCCAC.