Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

PERRYSBURG, Ohio – Owens Community College upped its record to 22-0 after its doubleheader sweep over the Raiders, but the visitors from Grand Rapids didn’t go down easily. 

If it wasn’t for the many defensive mistakes by GRCC, the game could very well have went in the Raiders favor in game one. Ashley Raap pitched a great game against the nation’s leading hitting team, but took the loss for the Raiders (12-18), who finished the day on a 4 game losing streak. Puff allowed just 2 earned runs and 5 hits, while striking out 5 batters. Both unearned runs came from two dropped balls by two different right fielders.

The Raiders threatened in the 5^th and 6^th innings, but left 2 runners on in each inning, coming away with just one run. Two runners attempted to go home on the batted ball, but were thrown out by the aggressive Express defense. Final scored ended up 4-1 with the Raiders getting four hits from four different ladies.

Casey Cherry was on the mound for the Raiders in game two and she got off to a rough start. The first batter of the game, speedy Kristin Roznoski (the nation’s best batting average) lead off with an infield hit, and the next batter got hit by a pitch. Both batters ended up scoring and the Express lead 2-0 after one.

Owens had a few opportunities to score in the bottom of the 2^nd, but Cherry and Raider D got out of the jam as three Lady Express would be left stranded. In the top of the half of the inning, Kellen Dewey led off with a double and advanced to third on a sac bunt, but the next two batters would struck out. Owens starting pitcher (7-0) struck out 9 batters in 5 innings pitched, while walking just one. 

The Raiders were retired in order in the top of the 3^rd and in the latter of the inning, the Express basically put the nail in the coffin with a 9 run inning. Cherry was charged just one earned run because of two critical Raider errors; a throwing error by Dewey and another throwing error by Adrienne Palmer. Cherry (4-9) finished the game with 4 K’s, 4 BB’s, and 2 HBP, while allowing 4 earned runs.

Just as they did against Lake Michigan a couple days ago, the Raiders rallied back in the top of the 5^th, but it was little to late. They left three ladies on base and the home squad would celebrate with a 12-0 victory. The Raiders finished with just 4 hits and the Express totaled 11 hits.