By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

MYRTLE BEACH, SC---The Express softball team has now won four straight to open the season after an 11-6 win over Sauk Valley C.C. and an 8-4 win over Lincoln College.

Game 1:
A ten run first inning, in which the first 11 batters reach based safely, buoyed the Express in their 11-6 win over Sauk Valley C.C. to open the day.

Overall, Owens hammered out eight hits, induced two hit by pitches and sent 15 batters to the plate in the first inning before adding another run in the second.

Offensive leaders for Owens included Michelle Hollister (Airport/Newport, Mich.), who went 2-2 with a run and two RBIs, and Courtney Mowery (Genoa/Genoa, Ohio), who went 2-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI.

Jordan Ratliff (Summerfield/Petersberg, Mich.) once again got the win on the mound for the Express. The sophomore (2-0) started the game and went the first four innings before Courtney Parr (Margaretta/Castalia, Ohio) relieved her to begin the fifth.

Parr pitched the next 2.1 innings before Ratliff came back in to get the final two outs of the seventh and seal the win for the Express.

Ratliff allowed three runs, five hits, and struck out one, while Parr allowed three runs, five hits and one walk.

Hannah Schmidt led Sauk Valley C.C. at the plate as the leadoff hitter went 3-4 with three singles and three runs.

Game 2:
A solid all-around effort helped the Express to an 8-4 win over Lincoln College in their second game of the day.

"I thought it was a pretty steady performance," said Owens head coach Duane Lanham. "It was a team effort."

The Express scored seven runs combined in the second and third innings to swing the game in their favor. In the second, Owens strung together a couple singles, a suicide squeeze, and a sacrifice to put three runs across.

The third inning featured four hits and ten batters for the Express. A two-run home run by Bridget Wolfe (Bellevue/Bellevue, Ohio) was sandwiched between an RBI double by Lindsey Bandeen (Springfield/Holland, Ohio) and an RBI by Kristen Roznoski (Cardinal Stritch/Toledo, Ohio).

Wolfe led the Express offensively while going 3-4 with two singles, three RBIs, two runs, and a two-run home run. Ashleigh Whitacre (Central Catholic/Toledo, Ohio) went 2-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored.­­­

Elizabeth Weber (Oak Harbor/Elmore, Ohio) started the game and went the first two innings. The sophomore gave up one unearned run, two walks, and one hit, while striking out two.

Kasey Graham (Clay/Oregon, Ohio) came in to pitch the final five innings and get the win for the Express in her first collegiate game. She allowed three runs (two earned), six hits, and no walks, while striking out two.

Jana Wright took the loss for Lincoln College, who scored their only two earned runs of the game on a two-run homer in the seventh inning.

Owens (4-0) has another doubleheader on Wednesday. They will take on Olney Central College at 11 a.m. and the Community College of Beaver County at 1 p.m. Both games are rematches from the first two wins for the Express.