MUSKEGON, Mich.---The Bay College Norse softball team finally played its first-ever conference games on Sunday, splitting a doubleheader against the Muskegon Community College Jayhawks. The Norse won the opener, 11-5, before losing the nightcap, 12-8.
In the first game, Rachel Winkel pitched all seven innings to earn the win. She allowed only two earned runs, struck out three, walked two, and scattered nine hits.
Bay trailed, 3-2, after three innings, and led just 5-4 going to the fifth inning. The Norse outscored the Jayhawks the rest of the way, 6-1, to win going away.
Lexi Kacalo led the way at the plate by going 4-for-4 with four runs batted in. Sierra Jones had two hits and drove in two runs, and Diane Salinas smacked a solo home run.
In the second game, Bay got off to a great start by scoring four runs in the top of the first inning.
And the Norse led, 7-3, going to the bottom of the third inning before the Jayhawks scored five runs to take the lead. They had 14 hits against three Norse pitchers. Brianna Pastor had four of those Muskegon base hits.
Avery Sorochan led the way by going 4-for-4 at the plate, and Desiree Bender was 3-for-4. Salinas had two more hits and two runs batted in. Bay had 16 base hits against Jayhawk pitcher Cassie Kohnke, including a solo home run by Madyson Rothe.
Bay College improved to 7-12 on the season, 1-1 in the MCCAA. Muskegon, which had played only two games entering Sunday, improved to 1-3.
The two teams will have a busy day on Monday with three games. The tripleheader starts at 11:00 a.m.
