MEMPHIS-The Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs split a doubleheader with Union Saturday afternoon, winning the nightcap 1-0 for head coach Mandi Balduf's 200th career win after dropping a 9-5 decision in the opener as the Lady Bucs celebrated Alumni Day.
GAME 1:WHAT HAPPENED:Union (5-14, 2-6 GSC) used a three home runs for all nine runs as they held on for a 9-5 win after the Lady Bucs (5-13, 1-7) used a five-run sixth inning to come back into the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED:• Union got on the board in the third inning as Rachel Ridolfi followed a pair of singles with a three-run homer with one out.
• They extended their lead to 7-0 in the top of the sixth on a two-out Summer Cross grand slam to center after a triple, an error and an infield single loaded the bases with no outs.
• The Lady Bucs fought back into the game in the bottom of the sixth.
Blake Andres (Arlington, Tenn./Briarcrest HS) reached on an error but was out when
Olivia Parsels (Germantown, Tenn./St. Benedict HS) grounded into a force play. With one out,
Abby Ferreira (Santa Clarita, Calif./Saugus HS) singled to right, and an error allowed Ferreira and Parsels to move to second and third.
Holly Oyhenart (Menifee, Calif./Paloma Valley HS) hit a two-run single and reached third on another error, scoring on an infield single by
Amber Johnson (Somerville, Tenn./Fayette Academy). After Johnson stole second, she scored on an error after reaching third on a groundout.
Jenna Cotter (Collierville, Tenn./Houston HS) hit a two-out double and pinch-runner
Alexis Seward (Chino, Calif./Chino HS) came around to score after singles by
Amy Koury (Pearland, Texas/Pearland HS) and
Maddi Welch (Munford, Tenn./Munford HS), bringing the Lady Bucs within 7-5.
• Union tacked on two more in the top of the seventh on an error and a Whitney Christian homer.
KEY STATS:• Johnson was 3-for-4 with one run, one RBI and two stolen bases.
• Ferreira went 3-for-4 with a run.
• Cotter was 2-for-4.
• Koury went 2-for-2.
• Oyhenart was 1-for-5 with a run and two RBI.
GAME 2:WHAT HAPPENED:Cotter tossed a three-hit shutout, her first career shutout, and she scored the game's only run as the Lady Bucs won 1-0 for Balduf's 200th career win.
HOW IT HAPPENED:• The Lady Bucs scored the game's only run in the bottom of the fourth. Cotter reached on a one-out single and moved to second on a Welch groundout, scoring on a
Hannah Oliver (Collierville, Tenn./Collierville HS) single.
• She allowed only two baserunners in the final three innings, ending the game with a strikeout.
KEY STATS:• Cotter went the distance, scattering three hits and three walks against six strikeouts in seven innings. She also went 1-for-2 with a walk.
• Ferreira was 2-for-2.
• Oliver went 1-for-3 with one RBI.
WHAT'S NEXT:The Lady Bucs meet Union again Sunday at noon in the rubber game of the three-game series.
