STEUBENVILLE, OH – After a close 3-1 opening game victory, the Hilbert College softball team found their timing in the night cap as they exploded with 24 hits in the 16-6 sweep over Franciscan University April 25.
The Hawks found five hits through the first four innings as they trailed 6-1. Up to that point,
Erin Smith poked a double and
Rebecca Bailey made contact twice for two singles as Hilbert's most successful hitters through the early portion of the road game.
But the flood gates opened as Hilbert was credited with eight hits to score seven runs in the fifth and 10 hits which scored eight runs in the sixth.
Jenna Catricone's double was followed by three singles (
Rachel Collier,
TylerLynn Langer,
Crystal Hailey), a
Lindsay O'Neil triple and an
Erin Smith double. The top of the fifth inning closed with an
Elissa Hall single RBI and a
Chelsea Buono walk.
The Hawks were still rocking at the plate as the sixth opened with seven straight hits, started by
Jenna Castricone's homer. Collier doubled and made it home after two more singles.
Victoria Dzaak rotated into the line-up and her double scored Hailey and Langer. Smith repeated the hit with another double on the day and moved home when Hall hit a single. With a two-out count, Castricone, Collier and Langer added more hits/runs before then final out with the score at 16-6.
Castricone and O'Neil led the team with 3 RBIs and four other Hawks posted a pair of RBIs.
Jaelyn Gotham picked up the win in the circle going six innings striking out twowhile pegged with all six hits.
The morning game started with a
Chelsea Buono single. The bases suddenly were loaded after back-to-back Baron fielding errors.
TylerLynn Langer reached on a fielder's choice which pushed Buono home for the only run on the board through four innings.
Franciscan knotted the score with a home run in the bottom of the fourth and that was all their scoring for the day.
Crystal Hailey opened the final inning with a single and ran the bags with
Lindsay O'Neil. They made their way back home before
Rebecca Bailey's at bat, when the Barons catcher was running down a passed ball.
Hailey went 2 for 3 and Buono connected on 2 of 4. Hailey and Bailey were credited with stolen bases and
Elissa Hall finished with two sacrifice hits.
Victoria Dzaak went five innings and gave up six hits along with striking out three.
The Hawks closed their 2015 season on a high note with their first league wins and two-game sweep of the season.
