The Westminster softball team capped off their regular season on Thursday with new program marks and broken records in their sweep over Principia College. The Blue Jays short-gamed Principia 17-2 in game one and 14-2 in game two, bringing them to a 20-win season, 20-15. The game one win broke the conference wins record for Westminster and became the program's 300th win. Junior Erica Burney broke the season hits record in the game one win, and sophomore Amber Tepen tied the season runs record in game two.
The Blue Jays closed out conference play with a 13-5 record, securing a spot in the conference tournament, but their final conference place is dependant on the other teams still competing.
Game One
The Blue Jays started game one strong with six runs scored in the first inning. Burney hit a two RBI single to shortstop to score sophomore Leah Holthaus and junior Anne Baker. Shannon Perrigo brought in Tepen, and junior Alyson Hahn ended the scoring with a three RBI double to right field.
Principia scored an unearned run in the second inning, but the Blue Jays tacked on four runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 10-1 lead. Perrigo hit a two RBI single and was brought home with junior Alyssa Johnson's RBI double down the right field line. Hahn then RBI singled to second base to bring in Johnson.
In the third, the Blue Jays scored four more runs with a RBI single from Baker, a RBI double from Burney and a two RBI single from Johnson.
In the fourth inning, freshman Kaylin Calton smashed her first collegiate home run over center field to score three and take a 17-1 lead.
Principia added one run in the fifth to bring the score to 17-2, but the Blue Jays pulled out the final out, ending the game in the fifth.
The Blue Jays recorded 15 hits, and Baker and Burney led the Blue Jay's offense with three hits apiece. Burney's third hit broke the season hits record with 61. Hahn brought in four runs, while four Blue Jays recorded three RBI.
Hahn (10-6) pitched the complete game win with six strikeouts and just one earned run allowed.
Game Two
Principia started the scoring in game two with two runs scored on a RBI double and RBI single in the second inning, but the Blue Jays answered back with 12 runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Johnson hit a RBI single to right field, Morrison brought home two runners, and freshman Whitney Mitchhart singled to second base to score two. Baker then tripled to right center to bring home Mitchhart, and Tepen singled to right field to bring in Baker. Perrigo brought in two more runs with a two RBI single up the middle to take a 9-2 lead. Morrison brought in two more runners and freshman Taylor Sechlor finished the inning's scoring with a RBI single to left center.
Perrigo led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run over the left field fence, and Johnson followed with a double. Morrison's RBI single to right center brought Johnson home, giving the Blue Jays a 14-2 advantage.
The Blue Jays held Principia to just one hit before grabbing the final three outs needed to end the game with a 14-2 five inning win.
The Blue Jays out-hit Principia 14-3. Perrigo and Johnson each went a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate. Perrigo scored two runs and brought in three while Johnson scored three runs and brought home one. Morrison recorded four RBI.
Perrigo (10-6) pitched a three-hitter complete game win. She struck out six of the 22 batters faced and allowed two runs.
The Blue Jays secured a spot in the conference tournament, but await their final seed. The tournament begins on Thursday, May 5, on the campus of Principia College in Elsah, Ill.
