Bobcats Take One in Inaugural Tournament
The Bryant & Stratton College Softball team opened up their inaugural season 1-3 on the road this past weekend in Austin, MN for a..
MILWAUKEE, WI (February 27, 2018) – The Bryant & Stratton College Softball team opened up their inaugural season 1-3 on the road this past weekend in Austin, MN for a two-day tournament. This marked as the first softball games ever in Bryant & Stratton College-Wisconsin history.
2/24 - Game 1 vs. Southeastern Community College (11-0 L)
Center Fielder, Kayla Jaskulski, opened up the Bobcats inaugural season with a base hit. Southeastern CC pitcher, Kalyne Powell struck out the next two and forced a groundout to end the inning. Playing exceptionally well defensively, the Bobcats forced the Black Hawks to three consecutive groundouts to end the bottom of the inning.
The second inning the Bobcats were held scoreless and the Black Hawks got out to an early 3-0 lead and never looked back. Scoring five in the third and three in the fourth the game was called at the bottom of the fifth.
Kayla Jaskulski (Franklin, WI) led the way for the Bobcats going 3-3 at the plate with three singles.
2/24 – Game 2 vs. Ellsworth Community College (12-11 L)
Game two was a battle between the Bobcats and Panthers as the Bobcats took a 9-4 lead after three innings. After a scoreless fourth, the Panthers jumped on the Bobcats taking a 11-9 lead going into the sixth. The Panthers scored another run at the top of the sixth and the Bobcats trailed by three.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Bobcats scored which cut the deficit to just two runs to start the seventh. After solid defensive play, the Bobcats went into the bottom of the seventh looking to get at least two runs on the board.
Earning just one run in the seventh left the Bobcats short and ended the day 0-2.
Kayla Jaskulski (Franklin, WI) led the way for the Bobcats going 3-4 at the plate including two RBI's and two runs.
2/25 – Game 3 vs. Rochester Community and Technical College (15-3 W)
After a slow start in the first, the Bobcats opened up to an 8-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning and never looked back. Despite a three run inning in the top of the third for the Yellow Jackets, the Bobcats earned five more runs to take a 13-3 lead going into the top of the fourth.
Holding the Yellow Jackets scoreless the remaining of the game, the Bobcats were able to tack on two more runs and capture their first program victory.
Alex Villalobos (Niles, IL) led the way for the Bobcats going 3 for 4 at the plate with two RBI's and two runs followed by Melissa Biefeld (Wauwatosa, WI) going 3 for 3 at the plate with three RBI's and one run.
Tori Golden (Oak Creek, WI) went 2 for 2 at the plate with three RBI's and two runs. Meghan Strasser (Waterford, WI) went 2 for 4 at the plate with 1 RBI and three runs.
Alex Villalobos threw five innings giving up just four hits and three runs. She faced twenty batters and struck out six.
2/25/ - Game 4 vs. North Iowa Area Community College (15-7 L)
The Bobcats struggled opening up the game, as the Trojans took an early 5-0 lead at the end of the second inning.
Maria Carmona (West Allis, WI) opened up the top of the third with a walk which allowed the Bobcats to get rolling. Carmona then stole second which put her in scoring position.
Meghan Strasser (Waterford, WI) singled to the outfield with two outs which put runners on first and third. At the plate with two outs Tori Golden brought in two on an error by the Trojans first baseman.
The Trojans regained those runs by scoring three in the bottom of the inning and three in the fourth. The Bobcats trailed 11-2 at the top of the fifth but closed the gap after a scored run by Brooke Masi (Kenosha, WI) and a grand slam by Heather Anderson (Glendale Heights, IL).
Trailing just 11-7 in the bottom of the fifth, the Bobcats looked to shut down the Trojans and get back to batting but were unable to do so. The Trojans earned four runs in the bottom of the inning and the game was called.
Meghan Strasser led the way going 2 for 3 at the plate with 2 runs and 1 RBI followed by Heather Anderson going 1 for 3 at the plate with 1 run and 4 RBI's.
The inaugural Bobcats team definitely competed highly in their first tournament as they have not seen live pitching in a long time.
"I was very excited to get out of the gym and start to play games," Bobcats head coach Troy Engibous said. "We obviously had some bumps throughout the weekend and had some rust but I was very pleased in several areas."
After pitching four games in two days, Engibous was very pleased with how well Villalobos performed.
"We hit the ball very well and Alex battled every out of the weekend," Engibous said. "To get our first win as a program and for the season out of the way was a big positive."
The Bobcats will get back to practice this week as they look to improve upon their mistakes over the weekend.
"Before Sunday we definitely need to clean up our defense," Engibous said. "We will do our best over the next few days to clean that up and be much sharper behind Alex come Sunday."
Up next for the Bobcats is a double header vs McHenry Community College on Sunday, March 4 in Rosemont, IL.
First pitch is at 12:30pm.