BOWIE, Md. – Millersville University softball spoiled the Bowie State University home opener on Tuesday (3/22) afternoon, sweeping the Lady Bulldogs 9-0 and 6-3 in non-conference play. The loss dips the Lady Bulldogs season record to 8-12 overall while the Marauders improve its season mark to 13-9.
Sophomore
Jacqueline Pickering (Bowie, Md.) and freshman
Jaelyn Belt (Glen Burnie, Md.) led Bowie State with three hits apiece while sophomores
Emily Lewis (Havre de Grace, Md.) and
Nicoleen Ochoa (Madison, Ohio) added two each over the twin bill setback. Senior
Danielle Watt (St. Leonard, Md.) recorded two RBI for the Lady Bulldogs.
In the opening game, Millersville scored the games' first run in the top of the fifth inning on a Heather Lutz single through the right side of the Bowie State defense, scoring Melanie Snyder. The Marauders pushed five more runs across the plate in the top of the sixth inning and plated another three runs in the top of the seventh inning to account for the final margin of 9-0.
Megan Hallock led the Marauders in game one with four hits in four at bats while Lutz and Melanie Snyder contributed three hits in the win. Brianna Andraos went the distance in the circle, striking out seven and walking only one.
Ochoa, Belt and senior
Caitlin O'Neill (Elkton, Md.) were responsible for Bowie State's only three hits in the opening contest. Ochoa pitched all seven innings for the Lady Bulldogs, allowing 16 hits and struck out three.
Millersville's Marauders lit up the scoreboard first in game two in the top of the second inning following a Hallock double, scoring Maria Spinosa. Jamie Trewhella stroked a double and advanced to third to start the third inning and scored on a bunt single by Brittany Smith to give the Marauders a 2-0 advantage.
The Lady Bulldogs tied the game at 2-all in the bottom of the third with Pickering and Belt crossing the dish.
The Marauders added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning only to have Bowie State trim the deficit to 4-3 in the half of the inning.
However, Millersville added two insurance runs in the top of the fifth inning to secure the 6-3 victory over Bowie State in the nightcap.
Trewhella was Millersville's top hitter in game two with three hits and three RBI.
Pickering paced Bowie State with a team-high three hits in game two while Belt and Lewis tallied a pair of hits each in the loss.
The Lady Bulldogs will look to get back on track this Thursday (3/24) with they travel to Wilmington (Del.) to take on the Lightning of Goldey-Beacom College in a non-conference doubleheader. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m.
