Softball Sweeps MBU with Shutout Victories

CARLINVILLE, IL – Blackburn College collected their second sweep in a row as they defeated Maranatha Baptist University 16-0 and 13-0 in Friday's nonconference doubleheader. The Beavers have now shutout their opponents for 15 straight innings. 

In the pitching circle, freshman Shelby Koeing threw 11 strikeouts while facing 19 batters and gave up just one hit.  Senior Taylor Girth notched nine strikeouts while allowing one hit in the second game. 

The offensive attack saw 13 players tally multiple hits on the day, led by senior Mckenzie Smith with six. She also had a team-high five runs and tied with junior Grace Mackey for the team lead of seven runs batted in. Junior Jessie Cirrincione added five RBI's.

Smith, Mackey, Cirrincione were joined by freshman Kenadee Frey with home runs. Smith also had three double with Cirrincione chipping in with two. In total, seven players had doubles and sophomore Zoe Mitchell also had a triple. 

The opener started with BC scoring nine runs in the first inning. Sophomore Breana Allen doubled and scored off a Smith single for the first run. A passed ball followed by Mitchell's single set up senior Holly Heuerman to score Smith with a ball to right field. After a single by senior Lexi Shaw loaded the bases, Mackey smashed a grand slam home run to make it 6-0. Sophomore Brianna Melchor then doubled and scored on Frey's double, and Frey scored when Allen singled. A Smith double helped Allen score and put the Beavers ahead 9-0 after just one inning. 

Mackey scored senior Natalie Keith in the second inning with a single, then knocked in two runs in the third with another single to score Cirrincione and Girth. Junior Miley Kwiatkowski scored the team's third run of the third inning off a single from Tabian. 

Frey started the fourth inning with a homer then Cirrincione followed with a two run homer which scored sophomore Michelle Hollon as well giving the hosts the 16-0 lead and the victory. 

The nightcap started with Blackburn putting across four runs. Kwiatkowski singled to start the inning then stole second and got to third on a passed ball. She scored on a ball hit by Smith. Koeing then singled to score Smith. A Cirrincione double singled Smith and junior Julianna Tabian to put Blackburn up 4-0. 

Kwiatkowski opened the second inning with another single and scored again when Smith doubled. Smith scored when Tabian hit a single to put BC up 6-0 after two innings. 

In the third inning, Mitchell scored on a sacrifice fly by Hollon before Smith's doubled scored Kwiatkowski. Koeing then singled to score Smith. The rally continued with a Tabian double to score Hiser and Cirrincione doubled to score Tabian. The scoring ended when Mitchell hit her triple which scored Shaw and Cirrincione. 

Blackburn added two runs in the fourth when Smith hit her first home run of the season giving Blackburn 15 total runs to win game two 15-0. 

The Beavers are now 5-9 on the season and will host Maranatha Baptist in anther doubleheader Saturday afternoon.