This story was written by Bay College Sports Information
ROCHESTER, MN – The Bay College Softball team (15-11) picked up a pair of wins on Friday in the dome in Minnesota.
In the first game they took down the St. Cloud Tech Cyclones (12-1) by a final score of 9-2, handing the Cyclones their first loss of the season. In the nightcap the Norse avenged an earlier loss to Anoka-Ramsey Community College (9-9) with a 7-4 win.
Allison Podhaniuk (FR, Stony Plain, AB) got the scoring started for Bay with a sacrifice fly in the second. Natalie Belanger (FR, Rapid River, MI) added to it with an RBI single.
The Norse continued to drive in runs in the third. This time it was Avery Sorochan (FR, Two Hills, AB) and Ellie Miller (FR, Ishpeming, MI) driving in runs with singles. Bay broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth with a series of two out hits. With runners on first and second, Miller, Podhaniuk, and Belanger each collected base hits, giving the Norse a 7-0 lead.
The Cyclones finally broke throw in the sixth for a pair, but Bay's Karlie Patron (SO, Ishpeming, MI) helped answer, crushing a home run to left.
Patron picked up a win in a complete game effort in the pitcher's circle. She scattered nine hits and one walk to give up just the two runs while striking out two.
Miller led the charge offensively with three hits in four at bats. Rachael Winkel (FR, Silvis, IL) Sorochan, Lexi Kacalo (FR, Marinette, WI), and Belanger each tallied multi-hit games.
The Norse then faced the Golden Rams who handed Bay an 11-1 loss ten days ago. Anoka-Ramsey's offense looked to be hitting on all cylinders early on, with the first four batters reaching safely bringing home two runs. They would leave two on in the inning however, as the Norse avoided a big inning.
The Norse had a similar first inning, picking up RBI singles from Patron and Miller, but leaving behind an opportunity for much more. The Golden Rams managed to strand the bases loaded, leaving the game tied at two after one inning.
Sarah Wynn (SO, Pitt Meadows, BC) broke that tie in the second with a two-out RBI double to center, giving Bay their first lead of the game.
The game remained tight until the bottom of the fifth. An error kicked off the inning, but the Golden Rams got two quick outs and looked as though they would avoid trouble. Sorochan lined a single to center to trigger a two-out rally. After a Miller single, Kacalo dropped a single into center to plate a run. An error kept the inning going, plating another run, and McKenna Bullen (FR, Escanaba, MI) drove in another run, giving Bay a 7-2 lead.
Anoka-Ramsey fought back in the sixth. Mckenna Packard (FR, St. Francis, MN) tripled in a run and scored on a sacrifice fly, cutting the lead to 7-4. The Norse worked out of the inning and stranded two walks in the seventh to preserve the victory.
Winkel was the winning pitcher in a complete game effort. She gave up eight hits and four earned runs. She walked three and struck out six.
Patron, Miller, and Kacalo each had two hits for the Norse.
