Greenville, IL, 4/14/2022 – The Westminster College softball team travelled to take on SLIAC foe the Greenville University Panthers on Thursday night in Illinois. The Blue Jays were looking to get back on the winning track after four consecutive losses in SLIAC play. The Jays offense couldn't get any traction in game one as they would manage only four hits as the Panthers would prevail 9-0 in five innings. Game two started promisingly with the Blue Jays taking a 1-0 lead but Greenville would score nine unanswered runs in winning the second game 9-1 in six innings. The losses drop the Blue Jays to 4-16 overall and 2-6 in SLIAC play.
The Panthers would score three runs in the second inning and six runs in the third inning while outhitting the Blue Jays 10-4 in the game. The Blue Jays best chance came in the top of the third inning when Abbey Jaspering (Wright City, MO / Wright City) led off the inning with a walk. Kelsey Logan (Fulton, MO / South Callaway) would beat out an infield hit to third base and the Blue Jays had runners on first and second with nobody out. Emily Esquivel (San Diego, CA / Eastlake) would reach on a fielder's choice as Jaspering was out at third. Laney Rosson (Columbia, MO / Battle) would then line out to the second baseman who would double off Logan at second to end the inning.
Raigan Mckee (Oologah, OK / Oologah) would lead the Blue Jays at the plate going 2-2 with a double. Haley Miller (1-8) (O'Fallon, MO / Liberty) started in the circle for the Jays going two innings allowing five runs on six hits. She struck out two and walked one in picking up the loss. Bailee Zemianek (Wentzville, MO / Holt) came on in relief and pitched two innings giving up four runs on four hits while giving up three walks.
Game two started off well for the Blue Jays. Rosson would start the game off by reaching on a throwing error by the shortstop that allowed her to go to second base. Kasey Ginder (Kirkwood, MO / Kirkwood) would follow lining a double into the right center field gap to score Rosson. Ginder was thrown out at third base trying to stretch it to a triple. The Blue Jays led 1-0 after a half inning.
The Panthers would then score nine unanswered runs. Two in the bottom of the third inning, two in the bottom of the fourth inning, one in the bottom of the fifth inning and four in the bottom of the sixth inning to prevail 9-1 in six innings. Erin Carr (3-5)( Woodlawn, Il / Christ Our Rock Lutheran) got the start in the circle for the Blue Jays. She worked five and two thirds innings giving up nine runs, eight earned, on ten hits. She struck out two and walked two in taking the loss. Rosson, Ginder, Zemianek and Jaspering each recorded a hit for the Blue Jays with Ginder picking up the lone Jays RBI on the night.
The Blue Jays will look to rebound at home on Saturday April 16th where they will welcome the Spalding University Golden Eagles to town for a doubleheader. Game one is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. CST first pitch followed by game two around 2:00 p.m. CST.
