Rockman's HR Helps Awaken Express Offense In DH Split To Open Season

By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Myrtle Beach, SC---Emily Rockman and Olivia Reeder hit solo home runs, while Jolene Sauter tossed a gem as the Express softball team won the back end of a doubleheader today to pick up a split to open the season.

Game 1: King's College 9 Owens 0 (Five Innings)

King's College scored six runs in the second inning to pull away to a 9-0 win over the Express.

Katilyn Turski pitched all five innings in the loss. She allowed 11 hits, nine runs (five earned) and two walks while striking out two.

In that second inning, Hannah Shank and Emily Rockman made two defensive miscues that helped King's College jump out to an early lead. After the leadoff batter singled, Rockman misjudged a foul ball that ended up giving the batter a second chance. Later in the at bat, she doubled.

After an RBI single, Turski got a groundout to Rockman and a sacrifice fly to right. With her team down 2-0, Shank was unable to handle a sharp ground ball that led to four more runs scoring.

Meanwhile, the Express offense struggled to get going. They produced only two hits (singles from Katie Butler and Reeder) against King's College's Karissa Kross.

In her five inning win, Kross struck out six and didn't walk anyone.

Christina Seber (2-for-3, 2 R), Erin Beane (2-for-4, R, 2 RBI), Amanda Cardone (1-for-2, 2 RBI) and Jennifer Harnischfeger (1-for-2, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB) led the offense for King's College. 

As a team, King's College hit 11-for-25. On the other hand, the Express finished 2-for-17.

Game 2: Owens 9 Cabrini College 0 (Five Innings)

Rockman's solo home run to lead off the second inning jump started an Express offense en route to a 9-0 win in the day's second game.

After the Express offense went down 1-2-3 in the first and saw their average for the day drop to 2-for-20, Rockman took Cabrini's Marcella Crist deep to right center to give the Express a 1-0 lead.

Following Rockman, Butler singled and Reeder sacrificed her to second. That set up a bunt single by Mareshah Scott and an RBI groundout from Alyssa Lassey that put the Express up 2-0.

In the next inning, Amanda Sinay tripled to left center with one out and scored on a single to center from Taylor Miller to put the Express up 3-0.

Then, in the fourth, the Express posted five more runs to break the game open. Reeder led off the inning with her first career home run before back-to-back singles from Scott and Lassey. Tyniesha Wilson later knocked Scott in with an RBI groundout and Jaylee Glad knocked Lassey in with an RBI single.

Sinay and Butler also picked up hits in the inning, which lasted 10 batters.

The Express scored their final run in the fifth inning. After Scott led off with a single, Melanie Iacoangeli pinch ran for her, stole second and scored on an error by Cabrini's leftfielder.

While the Express offense kicked it into high gear, Jolene Sauter threw a five inning, complete game shutout. In the first, she allowed a walk, but struck out the side. 

After allowing one single, while facing the minimum over the next three, she allowed runners to reach first and second in the fifth. However, she struck out the final two batters to complete the victory.

In her first college appearance, Sauter allowed only two hits and one walk while striking out six. 

Scott led the Express offense as she finished 3-for-3 with a run, while Butler went 2-for-3 with a run and Sinay went 2-for-4 with two runs. 

Wilson, Lassey, Reeder, Rockman, Miller and Glad each picked up single RBIs. As a team, the Express hit 12-for-28 in the second game, while holding Cabrini to 2-for-16 from the plate.

Crist (0-1) took the loss. She tossed four innings while allowing 11 hits and eight runs (seven earned), while striking out two.

Notes

The Express (1-1) will play another doubleheader tomorrow. At 9 a.m., they will played Olney Central College. Then, at 11 a.m., they will play CCBC Catonsville.