CARLINVILLE, IL -- The Blackburn College Softball team picked up their first conference sweep by defeating Westminster College 6-4 and 10-7 in a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader.
Freshman Kenadee Frey and junior Grace Mackey both finished the day with three hits and two runs batted in. Frey also scored four runs while hitting a double and a home run. Mackey added 3 runs while sophomores Breana Allen and Zoe Mitchell, and freshman Kailynn Kruep chipped in with two runs . Kruep and senior McKenzie Smith tallied three RBI"s. Allen, Mitchell, Kruep, Smith and junior Shelby Koeing finished with two hits as well.
Frey started the opener with a lead off home run in the bottom of the first inning for her third homer of the season. Westminster was able to tie the game in the fourth but BC answered right back. Mitchell got on with a single then used a sacrifice bunt from senior Holly Heuerman to get to second. During the next at bat, Mackey popped out to center but the throw to third was off target and allowed Mitchel to get home and give Blackburn a 2-1 lead.
The Beavers added another in the fifth when a double from Smith allowed Frey to score from first. In the sixth, Blackburn added three more runs. Frey knocked in sophomore Brianna Melchor with her fifth double of the season. Allen reached third on the play. A wild pitch let Allen score and moved Frey to third, then a sacrifice bunt from Kruep let Frey score and put Blackburn up 6-1.
Westminster added three runs in an attempted comeback in the seventh but sophomore Michelle Hollon came into the game to record the save with the 6-4 victory.
The nightcap saw the teams tied after two innings. The Blue Jays scored two runs in the second but BC responded with two of their own. Junior Julianna Tabian knocked in Mitchell with a single to center and Mackey scored due to an error.
Westminster added another run in the third but BC responded again in their third. Kruep hit her first triple to score Allen and then scored off a sacrifice fly from Smith to give the hosts a 4-3 lead.
Mackey scored in the fifth inning off a Koeing single then Blackburn added five runs in the fifth. After Frey walked, Kruep knocked her in with a double. A fielder's choice advanced Kruep to third before Smith knocked her in with a single. Freshman Sierra Hiser pinch ran for Smith and scored when Mackey singled. Heuerman, after getting on base with a walk, scored on a wild pitch that moved Mackey to second. Tabian followed with a sacrifice fly to score Mackey and put BC ahead 10-3.
The guests inched closer in the sixth with two runs and added two more in the seventh but the Beavers held on to get the 10-7 victory and sweep the doubleheader.
With the win, Blackburn improves to 14-16 and 3-5 in league play. The team enjoys a week off before heading to Eureka College on Wednesday April 24 for another SLIAC doubleheader.