Ohio Wesleyan 8, Allegheny 4
Ohio Wesleyan 10, Allegheny 2

April 4, 2009

Junior lefthander Rachel Seibel (Johnstown/Johnstown-Monroe) pitched a pair of complete games and sophomore outfielder Tara VanVranken (North Canton/Massillon Jackson) drove in 5 runs to help Ohio Wesleyan sweep a North Coast Athletic Conference doubleheader from defending champion Allegheny on Saturday at Margaret Sagan Field.

The Gators jumped to a quick 1-0 lead in the opener when Maggie Bodenlos drew a walk to open the game, stole second, and scored on a single by Stephanie Baer. Seibel settled down after that, getting Marci Potuzko to pop into a double play and retiring Rachel Ryan on another infield popup.

Ohio Wesleyan took the lead for good with 3 runs in the bottom of the third. Junior second baseman Devon Walker (Baltimore/Watkins Memorial) led off with a walk, and one out later, junior first baseman Emily Bradley (Columbus/Upper Arlington) was hit by a pitch. Junior outfielder Amanda Sanders (Lima/Bath) followed with a grounder back to Allegheny pitcher Stacey Robertshaw, whose throw to third was too late to get the fleet Walker, loading the bases. Freshman third baseman Ashley Allen (Richwood/North Union) lofted a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Walker and sending Bradley to third, and after Sanders stole second, VanVranken delivered a base hit to score Bradley and Sanders for a 3-1 Bishop lead.

Allegheny closed to within 3-2 in the fourth on singles by Ryan and Bessie Artino, a sacrifice, and a 2-out error by sophomore shortstop Kaylie Titus (East Hampton, N.Y.), but the Bishops got that run back in the fifth on VanVranken's RBI single.

Ohio Wesleyan added 4 more runs in the sixth. Freshman catcher Nikka Bonamase (Canfield/Youngstown Ursuline) led off the inning with a homer to straightaway center. One out later, junior outfielder Krystle Skaziak (Dublin/Scioto) singled, moved to second on a passed ball, and scored on Bradley's single, with Bradley taking second on the throw. Allen greeted reliever Amanda Downey with a double to right center, scoring Bradley, and after a walk to VanVranken, Titus plated Allen with a double to left center.

Bodenlos lined a solo homer and Ryan added an RBI single later in the seventh to bring the Gators within 8-4, but that was as close as Allegheny would come.

Allen went 3-for-3 with 2 RBI, while VanVranken was 2-for-3 with 3 RBI and Bradley went 2-for-3 and scored 3 runs.

Seibel scattered 8 hits, striking out 2 and walking 1, in going the distance.

Robertshaw was charged with the loss for Allegheny.

In the nightcap, it was Ohio Wesleyan taking the early lead, striking for 3 runs in the bottom of the first. With 2 out, Allen singled and VanVranken followed with a home run just inside the rightfield foul pole. Titus then singled to left and moved on to second when the ball caromed off Gator leftfielder Sara Doan, and junior third baseman Rita Cook (Sidney/Fairlawn) lined a single to center to score Titus.

The Bishops worked more 2-out magic in the second. Bradley popped up, apparently ending the inning, but Gator shortstop Ryan dropped the ball, and heads-up baserunning by Bradley allowed her to check in at second base on the play. Sanders followed with a single to score Bradley, and an Allen double and a walk to VanVranken loaded the bases. Titus then grounded to Ryan, who threw past second base, allowing Sanders and Allen to score. VanVranken scored on a wild pitch to extend the Ohio Wesleyan lead to 7-0.

Bodenlos walked and Baer followed with a single to open the Allegheny third, with both runners coming around to score, Bodenlos on a wild pitch and Baer on Ryan's RBI single, but Seibel got out of the inning without any further incident.

Sophomore catcher Sarah Truchan (Westfield Center/Brunswick) led off the Bishop fourth with a homer to left, and one out later, Skaziak walked. Bradley followed with a bunt, but Allegheny third baseman Bodenlos's throw hit Bradley for an error, with Skaziak scoring and Bradley winding up at third, and Sanders singled home Bradley to give the Bishops a 10-2 lead.

Seibel retired the Gators in order in the top of the fifth to end the game. She allowed 4 hits while striking out 2 and walking 2.

Sanders and Allen had 2 hits apiece for the Bishops, with Sanders and VanVranken driving in 2 runs apiece.

Baer was the starting and losing pitcher for Allegheny.

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2