Wave suffers three tough losses

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Calumet College of St. Joseph softball team might be their own worst enemy. The Wave, who suffered three losses on Friday, March 6 on the annual spring break trip, were within spitting distance of three wins but couldn't finish things off.

Calumet dropped the opener of the triple header to Cleary University (Mich.) 3-2. After being tied in the first inning, the Cougars put two on the board in the third. The Wave had a sixth inning rally come up just short, despite a home run off the bat of Cayla Rokosz (JR/Hebron, Ind.). Sarah Kessler (SR/Lansing, Ill. ) went the distance in the circle, allowing just five hits and one earned run, while striking out three.

The Wave forced extra innings with the University of Northwestern Ohio in game two, but five Calumet errors in the eighth allowed the Racers to plate eight runs. The Wave sent seven batters to the plate in the bottom of the inning to add three runs, including a two-run bomb by Stephanie Zandy (FR/Hammond, Ind.), but still came away with a 10-5 loss.

In the nightcap, Calumet found themselves down 5-0 after three innings to a powerful Indiana Wesleyan team. The Wave plated three runs in the top of the fourth thanks to a double from Cassie Reed (JR/Colorado Springs, Colo.) and two untimely Wildcat errors. IWU would plate four in the bottom half of the inning, but the Wave kept fighting, adding two runs in the fifth off of a home run by Sarah Kessler to score Kayla Krimani. The comeback effort came up short in the end, falling 9-6 to the 11^th ranked Wildcats.

Kessler appeared in the circle in all three games, throwing 17 innings. She allowed just 13 hits, while striking out 10 batters and walking one.

GAME VITALS

Scores:

Game 1: Calumet College – 2 ‖ Cleary University (Mich.) – 3

Game 2: Calumet College – 5 ‖ University of Northwestern Ohio – 10 (8 innings)

Game 3: Calumet College – 6 ǁ Indiana Wesleyan University – 9

Records: Calumet College 4-13-1 ‖ Cleary – 8-10 ǁ UNOH – 9-11 ǁ IWU – 8-6

NAIA National Ranking: CCSJ – Not Ranked ǁ Cleary – Not Ranked ǁ UNOH – Not Ranked ǁ IWU – No. 11

Location: PGF Games | Kissimmee, Florida

STAT TRACKER

Game 1 vs Cleary

• LP – Sarah Kessler (0-6): Six innings, five hits, three runs – one earned, no walks, three strike outs
• Cayla Rokosz: 2-for-2, run scored, two RBIs, home run

Game 2 vs IUOH

• LP – Sarah Kessler (0-7): Eight innings, nine hits, 10 runs – one earned, no walks, five strike outs
• Stephanie Zandy: 2-for-4, three RBIs, home run, double, two runs scored

Game 3 vs Indiana Wesleyan

• LP – Emma Cenzon (SR/Verona, Italy) (0-2): Three innings, seven hits, five runs – four earned, one walk, two strike outs
• RP – Sarah Kessler: Three innings, four hits, four earned runs, one walk, two strike outs
• Kayla Kirmani (FR/Lowell, Ind.): 3-for-4, run scored
• Sarah Kessler: 1-for-4, two RBIs, home run
• Cassie Reed: 1-for-3, RBI, double

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Wave finish up their spring break trip on Saturday, March 7 facing the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) at 9:15 a.m. and Cornerstone University (Mich.) at 11:30.