Blackburn Falls in Softball Action

CARLINVILLE, IL -- Blackburn College Softball held leads in both games but were unable to pick up wins as the Beavers fell to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in nonconference action. 

Juniors Grace Mackey and Julianna Tabian led the team with three hits with Mackey also hitting her second home run of the season. Tabian and senior Holly Heuerman had doubles while sophomore Zoe Mitchell hit two doubles on the day. Heuerman also led the team with two runs scored. 

Heuerman, Mitchell, and freshmen Sierra Hiser and Kailynn Kruep all notched two hits. Junior Shelby Koeing posted six strikeouts from the pitching circle. 

In the second inning Heuerman got on with a double then scored when Koeing's single was followed by an error to put the Beavers ahead 1-0. The Engineers tied it in the fourth inning, then scored three runs in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. Blackburn narrowed the gap with two runs in their fifth inning when a ball hit by sophomore Breana Allen resulted in two errors which allowed Kruep and sophomore Brianna Melchor to score. 

Blackburn took the lead in the sixth inning when Heuerman scored from Mackey's two run home run with two outs, putting the Beavers ahead 5-4. However, Rose-Hulman answered with a two run homer of their own in the seventh inning to win 6-5. 

Rose-Hulman scored first in the second game but Blackburn answered in the second inning. Tabian opened the inning with a single then senior Mckenzie Smith walked before a single from Mackey loaded the bases. Mitchell followed with a double to score Tabian and Smith to put the Beavers ahead 2-1. The hosts extended the lead in the third when Smith's batted ball allowed Hiser to score and put Blackburn up 3-1. 

The Engineers responded with six runs in the top of the fourth. Kruep hit into a sacrifice bunt to score Mitchell but the visitors added three more runs in the fifth to capture the 10-4 win. 

Blackburn falls to 12-14 on the season while Rose-Hulman improved to 15-9. The Beavers return to action Saturday afternoon to visit Fontbonne University for a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader.