The Charger softball team left 14 runners on base Saturday as they dropped a pair of games to Northwestern on Bishop Mueller Field.
“Really tough day today for the team. We’ve been plagued with leaving runners on base all season and today was no exception,” said head coach Erin Bly. “We have to do a better job of having quality at bats in pressure situations. We need to grow from these moments and help our pitching staff who has been solid for us all conference.”
Game 1 – L, 3-7
The Chargers had a runner in scoring position in the second with two outs, after Brooke Masi singled and stole second. The Red Raiders forced a groundout in the next at-bat stranding Masi on second.
Northwestern struck first in the top of the third, scoring one run on an error by Callie Billings. Georgia Krohn was able to get out of the inning by striking out the next batter. Northwestern loaded the bases in the fourth and tacked on two runs with a single and SAC fly.
After back-to-back outs to start the bottom of the fourth, the Chargers looked to get on the scoreboard with two straight singles that put Sidney Lierman on third base. Karina Cupples grounded out to end the inning, and BC left two runners on base. The Red Raider scored four insurance runs in the top of the sixth off three hits.
Looking to get the Charger bats going, Josie Chronic led off the sixth with a triple to left field. Kylee Lukes followed with a single, driving in the first BC run of the game. BC was unable to score more in the inning and would go into the final frame down six. With two runners on base and two outs, Luke doubled scoring both runners to cut the deficit to four. A pop-up by Kennedy Andersen would end game one.
Georgia Krohn pitched a complete game giving up four earned runs with four strikeouts.
Lukes went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Chronic had two hits and scored twice.
Game 2 – L, 0-8
The Chargers had no trouble reaching base in game two, recording a hit in each inning with seven in total. However, the Chargers were unable to notch timely hits and left seven runners on base.
BC’s best scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the fourth. Two straight singles put runners on first and second, and the runners advanced one base after a Lukes groundout. Back-to-back ground outs ended the inning as the Cliff trailed 6-0. The Red Raiders scored five runs in the third, and three more over the final two innings.
Lukes and Andersen each tallied two hits in the contest with one double apiece, while Chronic went 2-for-3 at the plate.
The Chargers drop to 18-21 overall and 8-12 in conference play. BC closes out the regular season Saturday at 1 p.m. against Mount Marty in Yankton, South Dakota.
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