The Westminster softball dropped two games versus NAIA teams William Woods University and Briar Cliff University on Sunday. The Blue Jays first played William Woods and lost 2-0. They turned around and played Briar Cliff and lost, 9-5.
Game vs. William Woods
The Westminster Blue Jays outhit the William Woods Eagles 2-0 in the first three innings of the game, but the Eagles hit a 2 RBI home run to take the 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. The Blue Jays had three more hits, but were unable to get on the board.
The Blue Jays outhit the Eagles 5-2. Sophomore Bree Peterson went 2-4 from the plate.
Sophomore pitcher Alyson Hahn (0-3) pitched 6 innings, struck out seven and allowed two earned runs.
Game vs. Briar Cliff
The Blue Jays were unable to bring in the two runners on base and left them stranded in the top of the first, and Briar Cliff scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first to start the game with a 1-0 lead.
Peterson led off the third with a double to center field. She was brought home with a RBI single to center field by sophomore Charlotte King. The Blue Jays followed with three outs, sending the game into the bottom of the third tied 1-1, but Briar Cliff quickly untied the game with a RBI double in the bottom of the inning.
The Blue Jays had bases loaded with one out in the top of the fourth, but Briar Cliff struck out the remaining two batters, leaving three on base. In the top of the fifth, the Blue Jays were able to get their bats warmed up. Sophomore Allison Biggs and freshman Amber Tepen each singled. Freshman Kim Morrison walked, making bases loaded with two outs and sophomore Anne Baker at the plate. Baker hit a two RBI double to left field to score Biggs and Tepen. Freshman Abby Bartley followed with a two RBI double of her own, scoring Morrison and Baker. The Blue Jays struck out on the next at bat, sending the game into the bottom of the fifth with the 5-2 lead.
The lead was short lived as Briar Cliff scored four runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to win the game 9-5.
The Blue Jays finished with nine hits. Morrison went 2-3 from the plate, and Baker and Bartley each had two RBI.
Bartley (0-2) was credited with the loss. She pitched 4.1 innings, struck out one and allowed six earned runs. Freshman Kat Cooper pitched .2 innings, and Tepen pitched one inning and struck out one.
The Blue Jays will face Stephens College on either Tuesday or Wednesday evening for a doubleheader. The game times will be 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The date depends on Stephens' ability to play.
