Iacoangeli Shines, Graham Picks Up Her 10th Win As No. 10 Express Sweep Defiance JV

Melanie Iacoangeli prepares to connect with the ball in the second game. The freshman went 4-for-5 with four runs, three walks and five stolen bases in the doubleheader. Below, Kasey Graham looks for someone to throw to during the third inning of the second game. Photos courtesy of Sharon Snyder/Owens Sports Information
Melanie Iacoangeli prepares to connect with the ball in the second game. The freshman went 4-for-5 with four runs, three walks and five stolen bases in the doubleheader. Below, Kasey Graham looks for someone to throw to during the third inning of the second game. Photos courtesy of Sharon Snyder/Owens Sports Information
Posted: Apr 30, 2012

By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, OH---Freshman outfielder Melanie Iacoangeli had a solid day offensively, while Ashlyn Michalak and Kasey Graham picked up wins in the home finale for the No. 10 Express.

Game 1: Owens 4 Defiance College JV 0

Ashlyn Michalak got out of a first inning jam and dominated the rest of the way as the Express shut out Defiance in the first game.

Iacoangeli was the story offensively as she finished 2-for-3 with a walk, three runs, and five stolen bases.

After some sketchy defense allowed runners to reach second and third with one out in the first, Michalak struck out the final two batters to end the inning. Then, in the bottom half, Iacoangeli singled, stole second and third, and scored on a single by Sydney Barron.

In the third, Iacoangeli singled, stole second, was sacrificed to third by Tabitha Britt and scored on a bunt single from Barron.

Iacoangeli walked and stole two more bases in the fifth, while Britt walked and stole second. Iacoangeli would score on a groundout from Allison Hausch, while Britt scored on a single from Jaylee Glad to put Owens up 4-0.

Defiance College then got a hit to lead off the sixth inning - their first baserunner since the first inning off Michalak. However, Michalak got a groundout, a foul out and a groundout to end the inning.

Then, after allowing a one out walk in the seventh, Michalak struck out the final two batters to reach 10 strikeouts in the game.

Aside from Iacoangeli offensively, Barron was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Glad was 1-for-1 with an RBI. Mareshah Scott was 1-for-3 with two stolen bases.

Michalak struck out the side in the second and fifth innings, while allowing three hits and one walk in her eighth complete game shutout this year. It was also her eighth game of at least 10 strikeouts.

Lisa Brophy took the loss for Defiance College. She allowed six hits, four runs and four walks in six innings.

Game 2: Owens 9 Defiance College JV 5

As rain come down most of the game, the Express pulled out a 9-5 comeback win over Defiance College after trailing 5-2 early.

In the second, the Express took a 2-0 lead on a bases loaded walk by Alyssa Lassey and a sacrifice fly by Michelle Hollister. However, Owens stranded the bases loaded.

Then, in the third, Defiance College used some key hits and some key Express defensive miscues to take a 5-2 lead off starter Kasey Graham. The Express committed two errors and failed to cover first base on a play that would have been an out, while Defiance got five singles in the inning.

After the Express stranded runners at second and third to end the third, Graham got Defiance College 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth to set up a seven run fourth for the Express.

Hollister led off the inning with a walk, stole second and third, Iacoangeli walked, and Glad hit a fielder's choice grounder in which everybody was safe. The next two batters, Barron and Katie Butler, hit sacrifice flies to cut the deficit to one at 5-4.

Then, with Glad on third, Olivia Reeder lined an RBI single to left to tie the game at five. Back-to-back singles by Scott and Aja Hall re-loaded the bases before Lassey hit a line drive to right center that scored two runs.

After Lassey stole second to put runners on second and third, Hollister grounded a two-run single through the middle to put the Express up 9-5. Barron then flew out to end the inning.

With one out and one on in the fifth, after rain had begun to fall again, lightning was spotted. Defiance College then conceded the game instead of waiting.

Graham, who bounced back well from the rocky third inning, moved to 10-1 this year with the win. She allowed six hits, five runs (two earned) and one walk while striking out three in 4.1 innings.

Katie Grubbs took the loss for Defiance College. She allowed 12 hits, nine runs and six walks in four innings of work.

Iacoangeli, Scott and Kenny Craig each picked up two hits for the Express, while Lassey and Hollister each had three RBIs. Iacoangeli finished 2-for-2 with a run and two walks, while Craig was 2-for-2 with a double and a run and Scott was 2-for-3 with a run.

Lassey finished 1-for-2 with a run, a walk and three RBIs, while Hollister was 1-for-1 with a walk, a run, a sac fly and three RBIs.

Notes

The Express are now 36-4 overall. They are scheduled to take on Macomb Community College on Thursday and Oakland Community College on Friday to finish the regular season. Both games are on the road.

Hollister is inching closer to the single season RBI record late in the season. She has 45 now, while the record is held by Amanda Temple, who had 54 in the 2008-09 season. Meanwhile, Iacoangeli now has 59 steals, which is 13 off the record of 72, held by Kylie Zweifel.

Iacoangeli and Scott each have 61 hits - the record is 85, which was set last year by Kristen Roznoski. Scott, who has 48 runs, is 16 shy of the single season also set last year by Roznoski.

Iacoangeli is now hitting .550. The school record is .541, which was also set by Zweifel. Scott comes in second on the team with a .492 average, while Lassey is hitting .410 and Hollister is at .396.