Ravens Softball continued their strong start to the 2024 season on Saturday.
The Ravens swept the Bellevue University Bruins in their home-opener, taking Game 1 by a score of 8-2, then coming back to win Game 2, 7-6.
Game 1
The Ravens received a great pitching performance by Bailey Selvage in Saturday's opener. Selvage notched 14 strikeouts in a complete game effort, giving up just 5 hits and 2 runs, improving her record to 4-0 on the season.
The Ravens bats backed up Selvage's stellar pitching in a big way. After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the third, the Ravens quickly answered in the bottom half of the frame. Kassidy James doubled to lead off the inning and was followed up by a single from Abby Pressgrove and a bunt single by Baylee Knorr to load the bases. Chloe Strickland doubled home James and Pressgrove, and later scored on a sacrifice bunt by Natalie Sheffield to give the Ravens a 3-1 lead.
Insurance runs were added in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. James singled and stole second in the fourth, then scored on Pressgrove's single. Knorr doubled home Pressgrove for another Ravens run.
Sheffield tripled and was brought home by Clare Heitz in the fifth, then Knorr drove in Ryan Cooper in the sixth and Riley Kennedy scored in place of Knorr on a Bruins error to cap off the scoring.
Game 2
The Ravens earned the sweep the hard way, erasing a late 3-run deficit. The Ravens actually led 3-2 heading into the fifth inning before a 4-run Bellevue rally gave the visitors a 6-3 lead they carried into the sixth.
Cooper singled and stole second base to start the Ravens comeback in the sixth inning. A Bruins error allowed James to reach and Cooper to score. Pressgrove singled home James and then scored on Knorr's double to tie the game, 6-6.
Kera Willoughby sat the Bruins down in order in the top of the seventh to give the Ravens an opportunity for the walk-off win in the bottom half of the frame. Heitz led off with a walk and moved to second on a Megan Forsman single. Cooper laid down a bunt that was fielded by the Bruins pitcher who then overthrew the first baseman, allowing Heitz to score the game-winning run.
Lily SinghDhillon got the start in the circle for the Ravens, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing 5 runs. Willoughby came on in relief, going 2.2 innings and allowing 1 run, earning the win to improve to 3-0 on the season.
James had 4 hits and scored 4 runs in the doubleheader. Knorr added 5 hits and 4 RBIs, and Pressgrove was 3-for-5 with 2 RBIs.
The Ravens (8-2) will return to action on their home field at noon Sunday, Feb. 25 against Concordia (Neb.).
