By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Rochester, MI---The No. 11-ranked Express softball team (28-0, 2-0 OCCAC) once again found ways to win and continue their school record start while sweeping a doubleheader from NAIA Rochester College on the road, 6-2, 3-2.
Game 1: Owens 6 Rochester College 2
With the game tied at two after four innings, the Express broke through for three runs in the top of the fifth that made the difference in the game.
In the inning, Michelle Hollister (Airport/Newport, Mich.) drew a walk on a full count before Kristen Roznoski (Cardinal Stritch/Toledo, Ohio) singled to second base. Ashleigh Whitacre (Central Catholic/Toledo, Ohio) then singled on a bunt down the first base line to load the bases with no outs.
Alaina Haubert (Gibsonburg/Gibsonburg, Ohio) then lined a single over the outstretched arms of Rochester's shortstop to plate two and put the Express up 4-2. After a pitching change and a sacrifice bunt, Bridget Wolfe (Bellevue/Bellevue, Ohio) singled on a bunt down the third base line to score Whitacre and make the score 5-2.
Backing up, Owens had jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first when Whitacre walked with one out. Then, Haubert lined a double to right center that scored Whitacre.
Rochester then tied it in the bottom of the second on three straight singles off Express starter Jordan Ratliff (Summerfield/Petersburg, Mich.).
However, Owens answered right back to take a 2-1 lead in the third when Roznoski singled, stole second and scored on an errant pickoff throw to second base.
An RBI single by Rochester's Erica Murray tied the game back up at two in the bottom of the third before both teams went scoreless in the fourth to set up the three run fifth for Owens.
The Express added an insurance run in the seventh when Roznoski singled, stole second, was sacrificed to third and scored on a passed ball. She now has 31 steals this season following the day's action.
Ratliff (12-0) went the distance for the Express. She allowed eight hits – all singles, one walk and two runs. She struck out eight Rochester batters, as well.
Katie Peacock (4-5) took the loss for Rochester after she started and gave up five runs, two walks and eight hits through four plus innings pitched.
Haubert (3-for-4 with a double and three RBI) and Roznoski (3-for-4 with three runs and two stolen bases) led the Express offensively. Wolfe added a 2-for-4, one RBI performance. Overall, Owens totaled ten hits to Rochester's eight.
Game 2: Owens 3 Rochester 2
It's been said good teams find ways to win when they aren't at their best, and the Express did just that in the second game.
After giving up two first inning runs, being out-hit six to five, getting two runners picked off, getting runners thrown out at first and third to end two different innings, and failing to capitalize more on six Rochester errors, the Express prevailed behind a nice pitching performance from starter Kasey Graham (Clay/Oregon, Ohio) and a game-winning RBI single from Lindsey Bandeen (Springfield/Holland, Ohio) in the fifth inning to win only their second one run game of the season.
As they did in the first game, the Express jumped out to a 1-0 first inning lead when Haubert reached on a fielder's choice and later scored on a wild pitch.
Rochester's leadoff hitter, Murray, then led off the bottom of the inning with a fly ball to centerfield where Roznoski misjudged the ball, leading to a double. A sacrifice bunt, a walk, a sacrifice fly and a double then pushed Rochester's two runs across.
That would be the only runs Rochester would score, though, as Graham (5-0) settled in and only allowed three hits and one walk over the next four plus scoreless innings.
In the top of the second, Sydney Barron (Jefferson/Monroe, Mich.) walked with one out before Courtney Mowery (Genoa/Genoa, Ohio) singled up the middle on a full count to put two on. However, Mowery was picked off first a short time later for the second out.
After a walk put runners on first and second once again, Hollister hit a pop up in the middle infield that caught the wind blowing in and towards first base. Rochester's shortstop mishandled the ball allowing Barron to score and tie the game. The rally ended after Hollister was thrown out at first by the shortstop as she rounded the bag too far on the error.
Neither team would then score again until the fifth, which proved to be the deciding inning.
After Roznoski lined out to centerfield to begin the inning, Whitacre reached on an error with one out. Haubert then reached on a fielder's choice and proceeded to steal second, setting up a two out RBI opportunity for Bandeen, who came through with a single through the middle to put the Express up 3-2.
The bottom of the inning featured an outstanding defensive play to end the inning. After a one out single, Rochester's Missy Roy hit a ball up the middle that Graham deflected in the circle. Bandeen then grabbed the ball at short, flipped to Hollister at second, who then threw to first to complete a big double play.
In the bottom of the sixth, Graham allowed a leadoff single, which prompted head coach Duane Lanham to bring in Ashlyn Michalak (Springfield/Temperance, Mich.).
The first batter Michalak faced laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner to second with one out before an odd play occurred.
Rochester's next batter lined a single to right field, but the runner on second froze and didn't score or even advance to third. Michalak took advantage and struck out the next batter before getting the inning's final out on a pop up to Wolfe at catcher.
After the Express stranded Haubert at third base in the top of the seventh, Michalak got a ground out to third, a strike out looking in an eight pitch at bat and a ground out to second to pick up her first save.
Bandeen finished the game 2-for-3 with a walk, two stolen bases, and the game winning RBI. Haubert picked up two runs and two stolen bases.
Notes:
Roznoski failed to reach base for only the second time this season. The Express, with their five team hits, achieved their second lowest hit total in a game this season. Additionally, their run total was the lowest in a game this season. They are scheduled to play on Monday on the road against Defiance College JV as they attempt to go 30-0.