The Blackburn Softball Team traveled to Rochester Minnesota to play six neutral site games over a three-day span. The Beavers left Friday, February 28th and returned Sunday March 1st. Blackburn finished the weekend 0-6.
The Beavers fell to Luther College (Nationally Ranked) by the score of 9 to 1. The Beavers grabbed an early lead as Freshman Lexi Shaw drew a walk with the bases loaded and was credited with the first RBI of the season. Blackburn held the lead until the third inning and the Norse never looked back.
WP: Abbey Gapinsk (1-0) 3.0 IP, 0 R, 1 SO
LP: Baylee Hughes (0-1) 5.0 IP, 11 H, 5 ER, 2 BB
Macalester College defeated Blackburn by the score 7-1. Macalester took an early lead 1-0 in the first inning. The Beavers tied the game in the third inning as Freshman Maddie Wichmann laid out a sac bunt to score Whitney Runyon. The Scots ending up pulling away to defeat Blackburn.
WP: Audrey Meade (1-0) 7.0 IP, 0 H, 6 SO
LP: Brooke Daniels (0-1) 6.0 IP, 9 H, 6 ER, 5 SO
Hughes 0-1 2 BB
University of Northwestern St. Paul defeated Blackburn on Saturday, February 29th by the score of 9 to 0. The Eagles gained an early lead in the first inning 3-0 and scored six in the last three innings.
WP: Kopacek (1-1)
LP: Baylee Hughes (0-2)
Backburn was defeated by St. Scholastica College by the score of 7 to 4. St. Scholastica had a 7-0 lead and Blackburn scored three runs in the sixth inning. Freshman Josie Manar singled to center to give the Beavers their first run. Manar scored later than inning on a throwing error. Shaw singled to center to score Kennedy Henson.
WP: Haley Rosenthal (1-0) 7 IP, 9 H, 4 ER, 6 SO
LP: Baylee Hughes (0-3) 6 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 1 SO
Blackburn fall to Dubuque (nationally ranked) on Sunday by the score of 9-0. The Spartans scored a run in every frame. Manar led the Beavers with a multi-hit game.
Game six the Beavers were defeated by Nebraska Wesleyan by the score of 8 to 0. The Beavers turned five double-plays. The Beavers were held to only three hits.
WP: Kailey Meyer (1-0) 6 IP, 3 H, 1 SO
LP: Baylee Hughes (0-4) 5.2 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 1 SO
Josie Manar went 6-16, scored two, had an RBI, drew three walks, and played errorless ball to lead the Beavers.
Coach Krum expressed, "Baylee Hughes did a great job of pitching, throwing over 20 innings with only three walks." Coach was also impressed by as they both " made Maddie Wichmann (SS) & Whitney Runyon (CF) both made several great plays."