By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, OH---Ashlyn Michalak pitched six solid innings in a 5-1 win, but the No. 9 Express were unable to overcome a seven run deficit while dropping the second game of a doubleheader to Grand Rapids, 10-9.
Game 1: Owens 5 Grand Rapids 1
Michalak struck out nine over six innings as she captured her eighth win of the season. She allowed four hits and one run while not walking a batter.
Owens took a 2-0 lead in the first. Melanie Iacoangeli singled and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Sydney Barron, and Tabitha Britt was hit by a pitch and later scored on a passed ball.
In the second, Iacoangeli reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and later scored on a wild pitch to put the Express up 3-0.
Michalak allowed her only run in the sixth inning thanks to a two-out rally. Kelsey Caposey singled through the left side, which was the first hit to leave the infield off Michalak. Tiani Beck then doubled her home to make it 3-1.
Then, in the bottom half, the Express added two insurance runs. Alyssa Lassey, who pinch ran for Katie Butler after she led off with a single, scored on a triple to right field by Olivia Reeder, who then scored on another triple by Hallie Thompson.
Kasey Graham pitched the seventh inning for the Express. She allowed back-to-back, two-out singles, but held GRCC scoreless to finish off the 16th win for the Express.
Iacoangeli finished 2-for-3 with two runs and two stolen bases, while Reeder was 2-for-3 with a run, an RBI and a triple. Barron went 0-for-2, but picked up her fourth sacrifice fly of the season.
Game 2: Grand Rapids 10 Owens 9
The Express experienced their first regular season, non-conference loss since the spring of 2010, but nearly pulled off a miracle comeback.
Graham started, but struggled early as she allowed four hits, four runs and two walks while striking out two over one plus innings pitched. She exited after allowing a leadoff walk in the second inning.
Lexi Sheets relieved her, but Grand Rapids took a 6-0 lead through the end of the second inning.
Owens would cut their deficit to three with two runs in the third and one in the fourth. After a walk and two singles loaded the bases with no outs, Tabitha Britt popped out to second. However, Barron came through with another sacrifice fly and a double steal by Mareshah Scott and Michelle Hollister scored the second run.
In the fourth, Amanda Sinay walked with one out, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Thompson to make it 6-3.
With Sheets still pitching, Grand Rapids killed some of the Express momentum with three more runs in the fifth inning. Michalak relieved Sheets with one out, and she kept the damage to a minimum with only one inherited runner scoring.
In the bottom half of the inning, with two on and two out, Sinay was robbed of extra bases in right center.
Grand Rapids would score what proved to be the game winning run in the sixth inning. Following a one out triple, GRCC's Danielle Goad hit a foul fly to deep right, but Sinay caught it - allowing the runner to tag and score.
Down 10-3, the Express would then score six runs in the bottom half to pull within one. The inning featured six hits and two GRCC errors, which helped allow the final two runs of the inning to come across. Some key moments included an RBI single by April DeCant, an RBI single by Jaylee Glad, another sacrifice fly by Barron, and an RBI bunt single by Iacoangeli.
The Express stranded runners on first and second to end the sixth as Thompson popped out to second base to end the threat.
Michalak allowed a two-out single in the seventh, but struck out two to set up a possible Express comeback in the seventh. However, the Express only got a two-out single from Glad and nothing else as GRCC finished off the win.
Glad finished 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, Sinay was 2-for-3 with a run and a walk, Iacoangeli was 2-for-4 with a run, and RBI and a stolen base. The Express out-hit GRCC 13-12.
Casey Cherry allowed seven runs over five plus innings, but picked up the win for GRCC. Emily Karbutowski relieved her amidst the sixth inning Express rally and allowed four hits and two runs (zero earned) while striking out two.
Sheets totaled 3.1 innings, six hits, five runs, two walks and three strikeouts, while Michalak went 2.2 innings and allowed two hits, one run and zero walks while striking out two.
Notes
Barron now has a team-high six sacrifice flies this year...In 11 games of action, Glad is now hitting .563, which leads the team...Sinay is hitting .500 (7-for-14) in 11 games of action...Iacoangeli is leading regulars with a .489 average (22-for-45) with a team high 19 stole bases...Michalak is now 8-0 with a 0.66 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 63.2 innings pitched.
The Express (16-2, 2-0 OCCAC) will be back in action Wednesday in Defiance as they take on Defiance College's JV team beginning at 4 p.m. before traveling to North East, PA this weeked for five games.