By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, OH---The Express had a lot of fun offensively today while racking up a doubleheader sweep of Lorain County Community College. Five players hit homers, two of which were inside the park, as the Express scored 29 runs in the two games.
Game 1: Owens 11 Lorain County 2 (5 Innings)
The Commodores scored two runs in the first inning off Express starter Kasey Graham, but that lead wouldn't last long.
Melanie Iacoangeli led off the bottom half of the first with a walk, stole second and scored on a wild pitch. Later, Aja Hall had a two-run double and Kenny Craig had an RBI groundout to put the Express up 4-2 through one.
After Graham retired Lorain County in order in the second, the Express added three more in the second. Tabitha Britt had an RBI single to start the scoring in the inning and an error by the left fielder led to two runs scoring on the play. Later, Katie Butler's sacrifice fly put Owens up 7-2.
Graham retired Lorain County in order once again in the third. The Express then added two more in the bottom half when Craig walked and later scored on a delayed steal, and Britt added another RBI single.
Lorain had one single in their fourth, while Owens was retired in order in the bottom half in their only scoreless inning.
After Lorain was held scoreless in the top of the fifth, the Express ended the game after only two at bats in the bottom half. Mareshah Scott singled and advanced to second on a throwing error before Hallie Thompson hit an inside the park, two-run homer to left center to end the game due to mercy rule.
Graham (8-1) picked up the win as she allowed four hits and two runs while striking out two in five innings of work, while Sarah Clark took the loss for Lorain.
Britt, Scott and Thompson each had two hits for the Express, while Britt and Thompson added two RBIs apiece. Britt and Scott scored two runs apiece, while Iacoangeli scored two runs on two walks with one stolen base.
Game 2: Owens 18 Lorain County 1 (5 Innings)
Amanda Sinay and Tayler Redinger each hit grand slams and produced five RBIs as the Express cruised to an 18-1 win.
The Express was the visiting team on the scoreboard in the second game despite the game being played on their home field.
Thus, after Sinay doubled and scored on a passed ball, Sydney Barron had an RBI groundout to put the Express up 2-0 through one half inning.
Express starter Lexi Sheets allowed a two-out single in the bottom half, but nothing more to set up an eight run second inning for her offense.
After Scott and Lassey had back-to-back singles, Michelle Hollister walked to load the bases. Sinay then hit an inside the park grand slam over the right fielder. Hannah Morrison and Redinger then each had RBI singles. Morrison later scored on a throwing error before a bases loaded walk by Sinay added the eighth and final run of the inning.
After a 1-2-3 second for Sheets, the Express added one more run in the third when Morrison hit an RBI double.
Then, in the fourth, Barron had an RBI double to make it 12-0. Later in the inning, following a walk by Hall and a single by Morrison to load the bases, Redinger hit a line drive over the left field fence for a grand slam - putting Owens up 16-0.
After Sheets allowed a two-out walk, but nothing else in the fourth, the Express got back-to-back home runs from Allison Hausch and April DeCant in the fifth to make it 18-0.
Sheets allowed a two-out RBI single in the bottom half, but it wasn't nearly enough as the game was over due to mercy once again.
With the win, Sheets moved to 9-2. She allowed three hits and four walks while striking out six in her five innings. Lauren Mims took the loss for Lorain County.
Sinay finished 4-for-4 with a double, a walk, a grand slam, two runs and five RBIs, while Redinger was 3-for-4 with a double, a grand slam, two runs and five RBIs. Other top performers included: Barron (2-for-5, three runs, two RBIs, 2B, 3B), Morrison (3-for-4, two runs, two RBIs, 2B), and Hall (2-for-4 with a run, a double and a walk).
Notes
The Express (32-4) will take on Lakeland Community College Thursday on the road to close out their conference season. Their home doubleheaders against Mott CC on Friday and Muskegon CC on Saturday were both canceled.
The home run for Hausch came in only her third at bat of the season. She walked and struck out in her other two at bats. Also, Hausch played first base in the second game, which was the first time she had done that in her two-year Owens career.
DeCant's home run was her first of the year, as well. With her big game, Sinay raised her average to .480.
Iacoangeli is on the verge of cracking the half century mark in stolen bases after she stole her 49th base of the season in the first game. She is leading the team with a .545 average. Four players (Hollister, Britt, Butler and Barron) have 20 or more RBIs following today's doubleheader.