Beloit Box Score
U.S.M.M.A. Box Score
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (March 13) – Friday the 13th proved to be pretty lucky for the Yellow Jacket softball team as they won a pair of games to end their stay at the Rebel Games in Florida.
Waynesburg earned a thrilling 2-1 victory over Beloit (Wisc.) to start the day, and followed that with a 4-1 triumph over the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy to cap their 10-game trip. After starting out slowly, the Yellow Jackets will return to Pennsylvania with a 4-6 record.
Against Beloit, Jacket hurler Autumn Minor took part in a pitchers' duel with the Buccaneers' Katy Sandt through seven scoreless innings. With no runs scored by the end of regulation play, the two teams played the eighth inning under international tie-breaker rules.
Under the rules, each team starts the inning with a runner on second and no outs on the board. After the Jackets gave up a run in the top of the eighth, they went to work in the bottom of the frame to claim victory.
Shortstop Kristen Lautenschlager was put on second base and second baseman Bre Kokladas came to the plate. When Kokladas attempted to bunt her teammate to second, Waynesburg got a gift as a throwing error allowed Lautenschlager to come all the away around to score and Kokladas went to second.
With the game tied and a runner on second, catcher Kristyn Klueg bunted Kokladas to third. After throwing eight stellar innings, Minor proved she still had enough left in the tank to bring the game-winning run in as she connected on a sacrifice fly to plate Kokladas and seal the win.
For the second-straight start, Minor didn't give up an earned run and allowed just two hits in a start. The Waynesburg native also picked up seven strikeouts.
Against the USMMA, the Jackets got all the runs they needed in the top of the third inning.
In that frame, sophomore outfielder Amber Pivik led off with a single and was followed by shortstop Nicole Forte, who reached base on an error.
After a strikeout, Minor reached base on an error and loaded the bases. Sophomore starting pitcher Amanda Baughman connected on a two-run single and starting third baseman Samantha Volponi followed Baughman with an RBI single. The Jackets also added a run thanks to some sloppy defense by the Mariners.
Baughman earned her second win in as many starts on the mound by giving up just a run in the sixth on six hits and a walk. She added four strikeouts to a very productive day.
With their run at the Rebel Games in the books, the Jackets will head home and prepare for a March 24 matchup with Carlow College. Waynesburg will open the home portion of their schedule on March 26, when they host Penn State-Beaver for a double-header.
