This story was written by Bay College Sports Information

ROCHESTER, MN – The Bay College Norse Softball Team (17-11) finished off a weekend sweep in the Region 13 Crossover Tournament hosted by Rochester Community and Technical College on Saturday. After holding on for a 2-1 victory over Itasca Community College (5-11), Bay pushed runs across late to seal a 9-1 win over Central Lakes College (5-8).

The Norse took the lead in the bottom of the third when they loaded the bases with three consecutive singles.  Ellie Miller (FR, Ishpeming, MI) kept the hit parade going with a ground ball through the hole into left driving in the first run of the game.  The Vikings caught a break in the next at bat as Lexi Kacalo (FR, Marinette, WI) lined a shot to the right side. 

Unfortunately it was snared by the first baseman who stepped on the bag to double off the runner.  Bay did get a second run from a passed ball before the Vikings were able to get out of the inning and limit the damage.

Karlie Patron (SO, Ishpeming, MI), the Norse starting pitcher, wiggled off the hook in the fourth.  After a leadoff single and a walk, she managed to get three quick outs, stranding the Itasca threat.

The Norse had to dodge one last rally attempt in the seventh.  A leadoff double and an error put the tying run on base.  After the runner on first got nabbed trying to steal second, the Vikings plated a run on a ground out.  After a two-out triple, Patron got the final out of the game on a three-pitch strike out.

Patron went the distance for Bay, giving up five hits, just the one run, and one walk while striking out eight.

Avery Sorochan (FR, Two Hills, AB) went two for three with a triple.  Natalie Belanger (FR, Rapid River, MI) also collected a pair of hits in three at bats.  One of those hits was a double.

The Norse took an early lead in the second matchup.  Miller came up big again, this time with a two-out single to left that drove in two.

The Raiders cut the lead in half in the bottom half with a sacrifice fly, but the momentum would swing back into Bay's favor after that and stay there.

Kristin Goodacre (SO Rapid River, MI) lined a single to center.  An error on the play allowed two runs to score.  Goodacre attempted to come all the way around but was cut down at the plate.

Bay broke it open in the fifth.  After two quick outs Patron was hit by a pitch.  Five consecutive hits brought five runners to the plate.  Miller, Kacalo, and Belanger hit RBI doubles in that stretch, and Goodacre was credited with an RBI single.

Rachael Winkel (FR, Silvis, IL) picked up the win in the pitcher's circle.  She gave up four hits, one walk, and one earned run.  She struck out two batters.

Patron was two for two with two runs scored.  Miller ended up two for three with a double and three RBI.  Goodacre also picked up two hits in three at bats and had one RBI.

The Norse will travel to the Milwaukee area next weekend and start with a doubleheader against Wisconsin Lutheran on Friday.  On Saturday they will take on Milwaukee Area Tech before heading south on Sunday for a double-dip against Morton College.