Week twelve of the 2017 college softball season is over and the same goes for April. As the season goes into the month of May, conference tournaments are coming fast as is the NCAA Tournament. We take a day-by-day look at all the wonderful action on the diamond.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

#14 James Madison won a doubleheader over ACC opponent North Carolina. The opener was a close fought game as Megan Good started the scoring with a solo shot in the first inning. Kendra Lynch answered for North Carolina in the bottom of the frame. The Tar Heels added one run in the second and third inning to take a 3-1 lead. The Dukes rallied in the fourth inning to take a 4-3 lead on a two run single by Morgan Tolle. The Dukes went on to win the game 4-3 with Good moving to 29-1.

Game two was far easier for James Madison in an 8-0 win. Madyson Moran hit a solo home run, Taylor Newton had a two run home run, and Madison Naujokas drove in three runs. Odicci Alexander threw a complete game shutout allowing only one walk and two hits with five strikeouts.

#4 Minnesota won a pair of games over North Dakota State at home. The first game was a 3-1 win with Sara Groenewegen throwing a complete game allowing two walks and five hits while striking out 12. Maddie Houlihan drove in two runs while Allie Arneson drove in the other run. Game two was a 6-0 shutout as Amber Fiser allowed five hits and struck out 9. Kendyl Lindaman went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and 2 RBIs. Lindaman has already hit 16 home runs as a freshman, which is a school record in a season.

The rest of the Big 10 did not fare so well as Penn State dropped a doubleheader to Saint Francis and Michigan State lost to Central Michigan. Saint Francis, a good team from the Northeast Conference, threw back-to-back one hitters against the Nittany Lions. Ethel Santai threw the first allowing four walks and striking out five while Ketarah DeVries threw the second allowing two walks and striking out 10. Central Michigan was able to defeat Michigan State 6-2 on a walk off grand slam by Erika Underwood. Both teams had plenty of hits, but it was the Chippewas who made the most of theirs.

#20 Ole Miss was able to fend off a tough opponent in Jacksonville State. Kaitlin Lee threw seven strong innings giving up two walks and six hits, but only one run. Stephanie Lewis drove home the game’s opening run in the first inning for JSU and Sarah Van Schaik tied the game in bottom of the third for the Rebels. It was Miranda Strother who ended the game with a walk off home run in seventh for the 2-1 win.

#12 UCLA defeated Cal State-Northridge 5-0 though the game was still in the balance going to the seventh. The Bruins put across four runs in the seventh led by Madeline Jelenicki’s two run double. Selina Ta’amilo threw 5 2/3 innings allowing one walk and three hits while striking out 8. Fellow Pac-12 school California overcame an early 3-0 deficit to get past UC-Davis, 6-4. Jazmyn Jackson, Kobie Pettis, Bradie Fillmore, and Krysten McCue each drove in a run for the Bears.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

It was a light day of action with no big name schools playing. However, there were still some noteworthy games. South Dakota and Creighton had a fun game in Nebraska with South Dakota winning 13-10. The game was tied 1-1 after one inning when the Coyotes put up 7 runs in the top of the second. Emily Winckler hit a grand slam in the frame to give them a nice lead, which they would not relinquish. Creighton’s Anna O’Gorman hit a three run home run in the third, but the Coyotes responded with three runs of their own in the fourth to make it an 11-4 game.

Sam Crowley hit a two run home run to cut the deficit to five runs at 11-6, but South Dakota’s Jamie Holscher restored the seven run lead in the seventh with a two run double. Creighton made one final push in the bottom of the seventh on a pair of two run home runs by Sam Dellinger and Jayci McGill, but it was not enough.

Norfolk State and Coppin State split a doubleheader with each game ending 5-4. Coppin State took the opener thanks to a walk off solo shot by Nicole Ullman in the seventh inning after Norfolk State rallied from a 4-1 deficit. Game two saw Norfolk State get an early 3-0 lead and then lose it by the third inning. Meaghan Barfield’s two run home run in the fifth inning was the eventual game winner.

Saint Joseph’s took a doubleheader over La Salle thanks to a pair of great pitching performances. Game one was nearly perfect as Ashley Ventura tossed a no-hitter allowing only one walk. Kaylyn Zierke went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and 4 RBIs in the 9-0 win. Game two saw the Hawks throw a combined two hitter in a 1-0 win. Ventura picked up the save tossing three innings of one hit ball while Stacey Mayer drove home the game’s lone run in the top of the first with Amanda Kulp scoring the run.

South Florida swept Florida Gulf Coast in a doubleheader between the teams. The Bulls held on for a 1-0 victory in the first game as Astin Donovan drove home only run in the fifth inning. Hannah Parker went 6 innings allowing one walk and four hits to win her 10th game of the year. Game two was close until the fifth inning. FGCU led 2-1 going in the bottom of the inning, but six runs by USF and two more in the sixth made it a 9-2 final. Six different Bulls had an RBI led by Kassandra Moeller’s 2 RBI game and Donovan went 3 for 3 with two runs scored.

Friday, April 28, 2017

#2 Florida State got a fantastic game from Meghan King as they won 3-0 over North Carolina. King threw the complete game shutout allowing only one hit and two walks while striking out 8 Tar Heels. The Seminoles did not score until the fifth inning when Cassidy Davis had an RBI groundout and Zoe Casas had a sacrifice bunt. Florida State added another run in the sixth.

#15 Baylor was able to start fast in both games of a doubleheader versus Oklahoma State to sweep the Cowgirls. In the opener, Baylor scored three runs in the bottom of the first thanks to a single from Shelby Friudenberg as well as a passed ball and wild pitch by Oklahoma State. The Cowgirls got a run back in the third on a double by Vanessa Shippy, but Baylor responded with runs in the fourth and fifth innings for a 5-1 win. Kelsee Selman threw a complete game allowing seven hits and striking out seven.

Game two started with Baylor scoring two runs in the first inning courtesy of Ari Hawkins’ single. She was not done with the offense as she hit a two run home run in the third as part of a five run inning. The Cowgirls were able to get three runs in the seventh, but the deficit was too large to overcome and Baylor won 7-3.

#19 Michigan took a pair of games from Indiana at home. The Wolverines jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the opener and never looked back. Megan Betsa threw the complete game allowing one run on five hits with 8 strikeouts as Michigan won 7-1. Game two was far closer as Indiana took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Bella Norton double. Michigan tied the game in the fifth inning on Alex Sobczak’s solo shot and then took the lead the next inning on a solo shot by Aidan Falk. Tera Blanco went six innings allowing the one run on seven hits while Betsa came in for the save and struck out two of the three batters faced to preserve the 2-1 win.

The Pac-12 saw the favorites win on Friday. #8 Washington won 4-0 over California thanks to Taran Alvelo’s four hitter and Taylor Van Zee’s 3 RBIs. #3 Arizona defeated #23 Arizona State 4-3 as Jessie Harper went 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs and Danielle O’Toole earned her 25th win of the season. #6 Oregon crushed Oregon State 8-0 in five innings Mia Camuso hitting a walk off grand slam and Megan Kleist allowing only three hits.

Finally, #12 UCLA got past Stanford 13-8 after an offensive explosion of hits. Kylee Perez went 5 for 6 with 4 runs scored, Madeline Jelenicki went 2 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 5 RBIs, Rachel Garcia went 4 for 5 with 3 RBIs, and four others recorded 2 hits apiece. All nine starters recorded a hit as the Bruins recorded 21 hits in total.

#1 Florida started their series at #11 Tennessee with a convincing 5-0 win. Kelly Barnhill allowed only two hits and two walks while striking out 12 in the complete game. Kayli Kvistad started and ended the scoring for the Gators with solo home runs in the first and fifth innings. It was Amanda Lorenz who provided the other three runs, two on a triple and she scored another on a wild pitch.

#17 LSU came back from a small first inning deficit to defeat Missouri 3-2. Missouri scored two in the top of the first while LSU eventually answered with two in the third inning. Sahvanna Jaquish tied the game on a two run shot while pitcher Allie Walljasper provided the go-ahead and eventual winning run in the fourth. She hit a single up the middle that scored Shemiah Sanchez and she also went on to win her 13th game of the season.

Lamar posted a doubleheader sweep of Incarnate Word, but the first game was the noteworthy one. Lamar led 7-3 after five innings, but blew the game open in the sixth. In that frame, Lamar scored 15 runs on 13 hits as Ashley McDowell was responsible for 5 RBIs including a grand slam. McDowell finished with 6 RBIs, Brittany Rodriguez went 5 for 6 with 3 runs scored and 5 RBIs, and the team totaled the 22 runs on 19 hits. Eight of the nine starters recorded at least one hit and seven recorded multiple hits. Game two was more of the same as Lamar recorded 8 runs on 12 hits. Both Brynn Baca and Shelby Henderson recorded 3 RBIs in the 8-4 win.

#21 BYU made quick work of San Diego over two games with both contests ending after five innings. The Cougars won 9-0 and 10-1 as Rylee Jensen drove home five runs in game one and Caitlyn Larsen Alldredge did the same in game two. BYU has won 14 games in a row since three straight losses to UCLA and Oregon in late March.

Saturday, April 29, 2017

#1 Florida had another dominant victory over #11 Tennessee as Delanie Gourley allowed only three hits in the 9-0 win. Amanda Lorenz went 4 for 5 with 2 runs scored while Kayli Kvistad and Aleshia Ocasio both drove in 2 RBIs. The win, coupled with Texas A&M‘s loss, gave Florida their third straight SEC Regular Season title.

Speaking of the fifth ranked Aggies, they lost 7-2 to Kentucky. They lead 2-0 after the third inning courtesy of a two run single by Riley Sartain. The Wildcats scored three in the fifth on a single by Bailey Vick and a two run single by Breanne Ray. The sixth inning put the game well into Kentucky’s hands as they scored four runs in five at bats.

#13 Alabama split a doubleheader versus #20 Ole Miss with both games featuring little scoring. The opener was scoreless until the sixth inning when Marisa Runyon and Bailey Hemphill both drove home runs. Alexis Osorio allowed one hit and five walks, but threw the complete game shutout with 9 strikeouts. The Tide won the game 2-0.

The second game started with the Tide scoring in the top of the first as Runyon brought home Elissa Brown. Alabama held that 1-0 advantage until the seventh inning. The Rebels had two on and one out when Brittany Finney hit a double to left to tie the game. After a walk, Kylan Becker came up and hit the ball to second. The Tide went for the out at home, but Grayce Majam slide in for the game-winning run. Ole Miss won 2-1 as Finney threw a complete game allowing three hits.

Oklahoma State won 9-4 over #15 Baylor to prevent a sweep. The Bears scored in the first, but the Cowgirls put up four runs in the second. Baylor tied the game in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by Ari Hawkins and a two run double by Shelby Friudenberg. Oklahoma State took the lead for good in the fifth on a two-run double by Hayleigh Galvan. The win puts Oklahoma State one game ahead of Baylor in second place in the Big 12.

The race for second in the ACC is still on between North Carolina, Boston College, and Louisville.  The Tar Heels suffered an 8-1 loss at #2 Florida State as Jessica Warren went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs and Meghan King allowed one run on two hits. Boston College lost 4-1 to North Carolina State with Peyton Silverman allowing the one run on four hits with five strikeouts. Louisville destroyed Virginia 11-3 with seven different Cardinals recording an RBI. All nine batters recorded at least one hit and each scored at least one run.

#4 Minnesota completed a sweep of Purdue to  move very close to the Big 10’s regular-season crown. Game one was a 9-1 blowout with Kendyl Lindaman driving home four runs and Sara Groenewegen striking out 10 over 5 1/3 innings. The Gophers posted another blowout in the second game 12-2 with three players accounting for all 12 RBIs. Sydney Dwyer had 5 RBIs, Sam Macken had 4 RBIs, and Lindaman had 3 RBIs. Lindaman had two home runs while Macken and Dwyer both had one. The Gophers have a 2 game lead over Michigan going into the final weekend.

The Pac-12 results were nearly identical to Friday as #8 Washington won 4-2 over California, #12 UCLA won 6-5 over Stanford, and #6 Oregon won 7-2 over Oregon State. The only difference was #23 Arizona State overcoming #3 Arizona.

The Sun Devils took a 1-0 lead in the second on Ulufa Leilua’s solo shot. They poured in more runs in the fourth on a two-run triple by Nichole Chilson and an error by Arizona. The lead went up to 5-0 on Marisa Stankiewicz’s solo home run down the left-field line in the sixth inning. Arizona clawed two back in the bottom of the sixth on Katiyana Mauga’s two run home run, but could not score any in the seventh with two runners on base. Giselle Juarez threw a complete game giving up one walk and six hits while striking out seven in the 5-2 victory.

Illinois State decimated Evansville twice on the day outscoring them by over the two games 28-1. Game one was an 18-0 win led by Caitlyn Daly’s 3 for 3 game with all three hits going for home runs and 7 RBIs. Jordan de los Reyes went 3 for 3 with 5 RBIs and Sarah Finck threw a one-hitter to improve to 21-8. Game two was a 10-1 with Reyes hitting 2 home runs and recording 5 RBIs. Allison Spence had 4 RBIs and the Redbirds continue to maintain their lead in the Missouri Valley.

Kent State swept a doubleheader winning 21-1 combined over Buffalo in two games. Holly Speers went 4 for 5 with 6 runs scored, two walks, and 4 RBIs on the day. The Golden Flashes totaled 27 hits over the two games, but it was the second game that saw Ronnie Ladines throw a perfect game. She had four strikeouts in the five-inning game.

UNC Greensboro won their two games over Chattanooga 25-7. Game one, a 10-0 final, was highlighted by Alicia Bazonski’s three hitter and multiple RBIs from Gabrielle Cubbage, Sidney Grkman, and Rachael McClaskey. Game two saw McClaskey go 4 for 4 with 4 RBIs and 2 runs scored and Marisa Sholtes go 2 for 3 with 4 RBIs and 3 runs scored in 15-7 win.

Sunday, April 30, 2017

#11 Tennessee was able to stave off a sweep by #1 Florida with a 5-1 win. The Gators took a 1-0 lead in the second on a solo shot by Jordan Roberts, but they struggled to find more hits beyond that point. The Vols took the lead in the bottom of the fifth on Megan Geer’s grand slam as Caylan Arnold stifled the Gator batters. Arnold got the win after throwing five-inning giving up one hit and two walks with 5 strikeouts.

#5 Texas A&M dropped a second straight game and the series to #18 Kentucky. The Wildcats took a 3-0 in the bottom of the first via singles from Bailey Vick, Alex Martens, and Rachael Metzger. The Aggies tied the game in the third on a three run shot by Samantha Show and Kentucky reclaimed the lead at 4-3 after an RBI groundout by Brooklin Hinz in the fifth. Jenny Schaper led off the sixth inning with a solo shot for Kentucky and Breanne Ray brought home two more runs on a single as the Wildcats went on to win 7-4.

#7 Oklahoma finished off a sweep of Texas Tech in style as they won 14-3 in five innings. Shay Knighten hit two home runs as she went 2 for 4 with 5 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Nicole Pendley also hit a home run and she went 2 for 3 with 4 RBIs and 2 runs scored.

The Pac-12 saw the sweeps of #8 Washington over California after a 3-2 win, #12 UCLA over Stanford after an 8-1 game, and #6 Oregon over Oregon State after the Ducks won 7-0.

Marshall improved to 18-3 in Conference USA with a 2-0 win over Middle Tennessee. Jordan Dixon threw the complete game allowing one walk and two hits while striking out six. The RBIs came from Morgan Zerkle and Shaelynn Braxton as the Herd swept the series.

#16 Louisiana-Lafayette scored five runs in the first inning as they swept Coastal Carolina and also claimed the Sun Belt regular-season title in the process. Corin Voinche had a three run triple in the first inning and finished with 4 RBIs while Lexie Comeaux had 2 RBIs in the 8-0 win. Alex Stewart had a pitching gem allowing only one hit and striking out 10.

The Mountain West remains open for the taking as five teams are still alive to win the regular-season title. For this conference, that is the Holy Grail as there is no conference tournament. Utah State, San José State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Nevada all have a chance to win the title. Fresno State is the two-time defending champions and they swept UNLV to keep their slim hopes alive.

UNLV took a 3-0 lead in the third inning on RBIs from Janine Petmecky, Alyssa Navaro, and Justine Federe. The Bulldogs pulled one back on solo shot by Savannah Mchellon before needing a last inning rally to win. Miranda Rohleder tied the game on a two-run double and Morgan Howe brought home the go-ahead run to make it 4-3. Kamalani Dung had a wonderful weekend going 3-0 in 23 innings of work.

Previous Weekly Reviews

Week One Review

Week Two Review

Week Three Review

Week Four Review

Week Five Review

Week Six Review

Week Seven Review

Week Eight Review

Week Nine Review

Week Ten Review

Week Eleven Review

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