Oakland City University Athletics recently issued the following announcement.
Walk-off Winner Gives OCU Softball The Sweep Over Brescia Bearcats
Looking to improve on their 2-8 River States Conference record, the Oakland City University softball team hosted the Bearcats of Brescia University for a home doubleheader. Game one saw the Oaks cruise to an easy 16-2 victory, while game two required a last chance comeback by OCU, walking off a 3-2 win and moving to 11-17 on the year.
In the opener, OCU got on the board early, scoring two runs in the first and three in the second. The Oaks removed all doubt about the final outcome by scoring 11 in the bottom of the third frame, finishing off the run-rule finish in the fifth, allowing a single Brescia run each in the top of the second and fourth innings.
McKendree Ward led the Oakland City onslaught, going 3-4 at the plate, sending home three runners and scoring twice. Hannah Gantner had two hits, including a triple, and a walk, driving in four runs and scoring twice, while Kirsten Greenberg went 1-2 with a walk, two RBI and three runs scored. Ashton Steinbrenner, Emily Fitzwater, Madison Boehman, Megan Ghrist, Hallie Fleetwood, Jessi Goforth, and Abbi Jaquess each had a hit, while Steinbrenner (2), Fleetwood (2), Fitzwater, Goforth, and Jaquess each drove in runs, and Goforth (3), Fleetwood (2), Jaquess (2), Fitzwater and Ghrist scored.
As a team, the Oaks had 16 runs on 13 hits, including just one extra base hit, 16 RBI, four walks, and two stolen bases (Greenberg and Gantner).
Kenzie Tooley threw three complete innings, allowing two runs, both earned, on four hits and two walks, striking out three. Steinbrenner pitched the final two innings, allowing just one hit while fanning three.
Game two saw a much different contest, as neither team broke through until the top of the fourth inning, when Brescia plated the game's first run. The Bearcats added another in the top of the sixth, and OCU found themselves trailing 2-0 heading into the bottom of the final inning.
After a leadoff lineout, Boehman singled to center field. Jaden Renfrow, who came in to pinch run, advanced to second on a wild pitch, then scored on a double to left-center by Danielle Haire. Haire was tagged out attempting to advance to third on Jaquess's double, who moved up to second base thanks to an error off the bat of Greenberg. Following a walk by Gantner, Ward came up with the bases loaded, trailing 2-1, and down to the game's final out. After falling behind 0-2 in the count, Ward sent a deep fly ball over the Brescia centerfielder, scoring Jaquess and Greenberg, and giving the Oaks a 3-2 victory.
Ward and Ghrist each had two hits in the game, while Greenberg, Gantner, Boehman, Haire, and Jaquess also picked up hits in the victory. Ward and Haire's doubles in the seventh inning were the only extra base hits by the Oaks in the game, leading to the only RBIs by OCU, two on Ward's double and the other on Haire's.
Fitzwater pitched a complete game to earn the win in game two, allowing two runs, both earned, scattering seven hits and three walks, while striking out eight batters in the victory.
OCU is scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, April 6, when they host the Eagles of Asbury University. Game one of the doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm.
Original source can be found here.
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