Norse Softball Wins First Three Games In Florida

TITUSVILLE, Fla.---The Bay College Norse women's softball team won the first three games of its Florida trip this weekend, beating Central Lakes (Minn.), 7-2 on Saturday, and then sweeping both ends of a doubleheader from Itasca (Minn.), 10-6 and 19-4, on Sunday. The Norse play three more games on Monday before taking Tuesday off.

SUNDAY GAME RECAP
In Sunday's opener, the Norse fell behind by six runs before rallying to post the victory, 10-6. Rhiley Hubert got the start in the circle, and got off to a rough start early on, and the defense behind her didn't help much either.

In the third inning, Kenzie Reidel and Claudia Burns both had two-run hits, putting Bay into a 6-0 hole.

The Norse finally got on the board in the third inning on a two-run, pop fly single by Jerrika McAlpine.

Then in the fourth inning, Emily Bruntjens had a sacrafice fly to bring the Norse to within 6-3.

The fifth inning was a big one as the Norse continued their comeback. Kaitlyn Hardwick smoked a two-out, two-run double to make it 6-5.

Emily LaFave followed with a base hit to tie the game, then Eve LaFleche came through with an RBI hit to give the Norse their first lead at 7-6.

Bay added RBI hits by McAlpine and Hardwick in the sixth inning, and Hubert closed the door, with a nice 5-6-3 double play to end the game.

In the nightcap, Hardwick continued to scald the ball, getting base hits in all fove of her at-bats, driving in five runs. Bruntjens had a triple and a pair of singles (including a bunt single), and McAlpine was 4-for-4 with three runs batted in.

The Norse raced to a 6-0 lead, then after the Vikings closed to within 6-3, Bay scored eleven runs in the fourth inning to break the game open. That inning was highlighted by the first Norse home run, as Richelle Vandeville smoked a long home run to center field with the bases loaded. Tthe grand slam home run made it a 16-3 Norse lead.

Hardwick closed things out in the fifth inning with a two-run double, and the game ended after five innings with the Norse leading by 15 runs, at 19-4. Lexi Winling threw all five innings for the win, giving up six hits and four runs (two earned).

Itasca fell to 1-5 on the season. The Norse improved to 3-0, and will play three more games on Monday, at 9 a.m., 11:30, and 2:30. The second and third games of the day will be broadcast on NewsTalk 600 AM, and on-line at www.rrnsports.com.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos taken by Brad Landis, video clips, and hear post-game comments from Hardwick and Vandeville.

SATURDAY GAME RECAP:

The Bay College Norse softball team won its first-ever game on Saturday, beating Central Lakes College-Brainerd (Minn.), 7-2, in Titusville, Florida.

Bay College got a complete game pitching performance from Gladstone native Lexi Winling in the historic first win. She allowed six hits, two runs (both earned), walked three, hit two batters, and struck out six.

Eve LaFleche wasted no time in getting the first base hit in Norse softball history as she led off the first inning with a pop fly single to right field.

Escanaba native Jerrika McAlpine led the offense with three hits, three runs scored, and two runs driven in.

The Norse would get on the board first, taking the lead in the bottom of the second. Jerrika McAlpine (SO, Escanaba, MI) lined a single to left to plate a run. She would later score on an Emily Bruntjens (SO, Escanaba, MI) single up the middle.

After surrendering a run in the top of the fourth, Bay would answer back in the bottom half. A pair of errors and a McAlpine double would plate one run. Aubree Saunders (SO, Escanaba, MI) drove in two more with a two out single, putting the Norse on top by a score of 5-1.

A pair of hits would cut into that lead in the top of the fifth, but Bay would put the game away in the bottom half. Emily LaFave (SO, Escanaba, MI) lined a ball into center to plate one run. With two outs, Eve LaFleche (FR, Hillman, MI) drove in the final insurance run, hitting a grounder through the right side.

Lexi Winling (FR, Gladstone, MI) earned the complete game win, giving up two runs on five hits and five walks, while striking out eight. Claire McInerney (FR, Escanaba, MI) ended the game going three for three with two runs scored. McAlpine would also go three for three, smacking two doubles, scoring three times, and driving in one run. LeFleche and Bruntjens would both collect two hits in the game.

"Lexi [Winling] was strong on the mound all seven innings," said Head Coach Heidi Charon. "We used aggressive base running to make the most of the hits we got. It is pretty special to be a part of Bay's first ever team and especially exciting that we were able to start things off with a win."

Fellow Eskymo Claire McInerney scored two runs, drove in one, and was on base twice. And Esky native Emily Bruntjens had two hits, two runs scored, and drove in a run.