By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, OH---Ashlyn Michalak threw a no-hitter in an 8-0 win, while Lexi Sheets and Kasey Graham combined to shutout Lakeland 10-0 in the second game. With the two wins, the Express pitching staff extended their scoreless streak to 30 innings and the team clinched the outright OCCAC championship.

Game 1: Owens 8 Lakeland 0 (5 innings)

While Michalak was shutting down Lakeland's offense, the Express offense scored five runs in the fifth inning to close out an 8-0 win.

The only runners to reach against Michalak came on two errors and a walk. She also struck out three while lowering her season ERA to 0.89 and pushing her record to 13-0.

The Express jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning. With runners on first and second, Michelle Hollister lined an RBI double to left to open the scoring. Following that, Melanie Iacoangeli hit a sacrifice fly to the second baseman to make it 2-0. On the play, Lakeland's second baseman had to make a diving catch, and Hallie Thompson took advantage and scored from third. Sydney Barron then lined a two-out single to center that scored Hollister and made it 3-0.

After allowing only one baserunner in the first three innings (on an error in the first), Michalak allowed a one out walk in the fourth. However, the Express turned a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Then, after stranding Iacoangeli at third to end the fourth, Michalak had the leadoff runner reach on a throwing error in the fifth. The Express then turned another double play, though, as Thompson fielded the ball at short, threw to Hollister at second, who completed the double play with a throw to Katie Butler at first.

Owens used that momentum to score five in the bottom half and close out the game. After Butler led off the inning by reaching via error, Amanda Sinay pinch ran for her. After a hit by pitch to Jaylee Glad, Olivia Reeder attempted to advance the runners, but Sinay was thrown out at third for the first out.

Mareshah Scott then scored Glad on an RBI single before a wild play scored two more. Hollister grounded a ball to Lakeland's shortstop, Steph Ziegler, who threw to second for a force out. However, the throw to first was wild - allowing two runs to score while Hollister advanced all the way to third.

Iacoangeli followed with an RBI single to score Hollister. She then stole second before Tabitha Britt tripled to center field to score her and finish the game.

Iacoangeli finished 2-for-2 with a run, a walk and two RBIs, while Scott (2-for-3, two runs, one RBI) also had two hits. Britt, Barron, Glad, Thompson and Hollister each added one hit apiece.

Kara Fitzgerald took the loss for Lakeland. She allowed nine hits, eight runs, four walks and didn't strike out a batter in 4.2 innings. Michalak faced the minimum in her five innings.

Game 2: Owens 10 Lakeland 0

The Express used five hits and two Lakeland errors to score seven first inning runs while coasting to a 10-0 win in the second game.

Sheets, who started for the Express, stranded a one out walk in the top of the first. The Express then went to work.

Iacoangeli singled, stole second and third, and scored on a grounder by Britt, who reached via an error on the play. Barron then reached on a fielder's choice as Lakeland couldn't get Britt out in time at second. Butler then sacrificed the runners to second and third before Aja Hall knocked Britt in with a sacrifice fly. Hall reached on the play when Lakeland's centerfielder dropped the ball.

Following that, the Express scored runs on a passed ball, an RBI single by Scott, an RBI double by Thompson, an RBI double by Hollister, and a wild pitch.

Lakeland then got their first hit of the game to lead off the second - a single to center. However, Sheets retired the next three batters in order.

Owens added single runs in the second, third and fourth. In the second, Barron singled to center, advanced to second on a wild pitch, was sacrificed to third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Aja Hall.

In the third, Scott singled, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hollister. Then, in the fourth, Alyssa Lassey hit a bases loaded single to score Hall, who had singled and stole second with one out.

Graham relieved Sheets to begin the fourth and retired all six batters she faced. Two came on strikeouts. Sheets moved to 8-1 with the win as she allowed two hits and one walk while striking out one in her three innings.

Iacoangeli (3-for-3, one run, three stolen bases) and Scott (3-for-3, two runs, one RBI and two stolen bases) led the Express offensive attack, which included 13 total hits.

Other key offensive performances from Owens included: Hollister (1-for-1, one run, a double and two RBIs) and Hall (1-for-1, two runs, two RBIs and two stolen bases).

Shannon Schwed took the loss for Lakeland. She allowed nine hits and nine runs in three innings while falling to 5-10 overall.

Notes

The OCCAC championship is the 11th for the Express softball program. Last year, they shared the OCCAC title with Lakeland, so today was a nice measure of revenge against the Lakers.

Owens improved to 26-2 overall and 6-0 in the OCCAC, while Lakeland falls to 12-18 and 3-3 in the OCCAC.

Iacoangeli was 5-for-5 with two runs, two RBIs and six stolen bases on the day. She now has 38 stolen bases in 43 attempts this season and leads the team with a .566 batting average, as well.

Scott raised her batting average to .427, and she has now stolen 20 bases in 20 attempts. Hollister remains the team leader in RBIs with 32. As a team, the Express are now hitting .370 with 101 stolen bases in 109 attempts.

Owens will take on No. 16 Mercyhurst NE (33-8) beginning at 1 p.m. tomorrow.