By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
South Euclid, Ohio---The Owens Community College softball team split a pair of games against NCAA Division II Notre Dame College on the road today behind a pair of big offensive performances from Cassidy Rolf (Eastwood/Pemberville, Ohio) and Jacey Gray (Springfield/Holland, Ohio).
Game 1: Owens 6 Notre Dame 5
Miranda Benschoter (Elmwood/Bloomdale, Ohio) pitched out of a few jams, while Rolf and Gray combined for seven hits, three runs, four RBI and three stolen bases in today's first game.
Rolf had the biggest game by going 4-for-4 with four RBI. In the third inning, she broke open a scoreless game by blasting a two-run home run to centerfield, which scored Gray, who singled and stole second with one out.
In addition to her offense, Gray's defense prevented a run in the home half of the second and third innings. In the second, she robbed a line drive to right that was headed over the fence for a potential solo home run.
Then, with one out in the third, a run already in and a runner on third, Gray caught a line drive to right and threw home in time to double up the potential tying run at home with the assistance of Angelique Prunty (Elyria/Elyria, Ohio), who blocked the plate and applied the tag.
With the momentum from the Gray-Prunty double play, the Owens offense picked up a two-run triple to right center from Olivia Myers (Elmwood/Bloomdale, Ohio) in the fourth. Prunty hit a line shot to third for an infield single to lead off the inning. After Haley Kreger (Bedford/Temperance, Mich.) came in to pinch run for her, Lindsey Wiggins (Bradford/Brooker, Fla.) was hit by a pitch to set up the big hit from Myers.
Benschoter ran into a little trouble in the fourth by allowing a sacrifice fly and a solo home run, but struck out Rishauntia Belgon to end any further threat and keep Owens in the lead.
Then, in the fifth, Benschoter stranded two more runners to keep Owens up one run. In the next half inning, Rolf struck again. This time, the sophomore third baseman produced a two-run single to center that scored Myers, who had walked, and Gray, who had singled.
In the sixth, Notre Dame plated a pair of runs and loaded the bases with one out. However, Benschoter struck out Myranda Rowland and got Niccole Luciano to ground out to end the threat and keep Owens ahead.
In the seventh, Prunty doubled with one out, but was stranded at third. Benschoter allowed a leadoff single in the home half of the seventh, but retired the next three batters to end the game.
Aside from Rolf, Gray finished 3-for-4 with two runs and three stolen bases, while Angelique Prunty was 3-for-3. Michayla Barga (Bradford/Bradford, Ohio) added a pair of hits and a stolen base.
Benschoter (6-4) picked up the win in the circle. Her final line included seven innings, seven hits, five runs (four earned) and three walks with six strikeouts.
Game 2: Notre Dame 6 Owens 3
A three-run sixth inning for Notre Dame doomed Owens in today's second game.
Gray singled, stole second and third, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Rolf to give Owens a 1-0 lead in the first. However, they missed a chance to add on when they stranded a pair of runners in scoring position.
Kailey Minarchick (Columbia Station/Columbia Station, Ohio) then started dominating in the circle. The freshman allowed just three baserunners via two walks and an error through three innings.
However, a steady rain started falling in the fourth, Minarchick had trouble getting a good grip on the ball, and Notre Dame took advantage by scoring three runs to take the lead.
Between the second and fifth innings, Owens was only able to produce one runner, which game via a two-out single from Barga in the third. In the sixth, however, they picked up a pair of runs to tie the game via back-to-back two-out RBI singles from Ericca Herzog (Southview/Sylvania, Ohio) and Prunty.
Notre Dame picked up three unearned runs in the sixth to take a 6-3 lead.
Owens tried to mount a two-run rally in the seventh when Myers walked and Gray singled, but Rolf grounded into a fielder's choice, where Gray was thrown out at third, to end the game.
Gray finished 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI in the second game, while Barga, Prunty and Herzog had the team's other three hits.
Minarchick (6-6) took the loss. Her final line included six innings, seven hits, six runs (two earned), three walks and three strikeouts.
Looking Ahead
Owens is now 13-10 overall. Saturday's doubleheader at Clark State Community College was postponed. The next action is scheduled for Monday at Heidelberg University's JV team beginning at 3:30 p.m. Following that, the team is scheduled for its home opener next Friday against Sinclair Community College.
Notes
With her 6-for-8 performance today, Gray is now hitting .603 with 24 stolen bases and 21 runs this year. Rolf is now hitting .450 with a team-high 16 RBI.