KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Kalamazoo College softball team was defeated by Aquinas College 7-2 and 11-10 in eight innings at home on Thursday afternoon.
Game One
Kalamazoo scored the first two runs of the ball game in the first inning, but the Aquinas pitching staff shut the lineup down for the rest of the game. The Saints tied the game up in the third, took a three-run lead in the fifth, and added one more in the sixth.
Maddy Vrba started in the circle and allowed two runs on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in four innings. Jordan Wesaw relieved Vrba in the fifth and was hit with the loss after surrendering five runs (three earned) on six hits with a strikeout.
Lizzy Rottenberk continues to break records after collecting a single in the second inning to become the all-time hits leader in program history. Rottenberk surpassed Lucy Hart (2020-23), who had 133 hits in 105 games in her COVID-shortened career. Yesterday, Rottenberk stole two bases and set a new single-season record with 24 this season, breaking Querubin Dubois' record of 20 (2015). She also scored two runs and has 96 in her career, breaking Andrea MacMichael's (2016-19) record of 94.
Emma Newlove was on base twice with an RBI double and a walk. Shelby Bennett also had a hit and a walk, while Wesaw added a double.
Game Two
The second game was an entertaining start when Kalamazoo took the lead in the first with a run, and Aquinas answered with a run in the next half inning. The Hornets scored a run in the second and third innings to take a 3-1 lead before the Saints cut the lead back to one in the fourth. A three-run home run by Landrie Fridsma gave Kalamazoo some cushion in the fourth with a 6-2 advantage. Both teams scored a run in the fifth as the Hornets led 7-3.
Heading into the bottom of the seventh, down by four, Aquinas scored six runs on five hits and three Kalamazoo errors to take a 9-7 lead. The Hornets responded with two runs on three hits to tie the game at nine and force extra innings. A runner is placed on second base in extra-inning games, and Aquinas scored two in the eighth to take an 11-9 lead. Kalamazoo scored one run, but not the game-tying run, and fell by one.
Jordan Cook pitched five innings after coming out after the fourth and re-entering for the eighth. Cook allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Cecilia Schihl threw three innings in relief, allowing seven runs (three earned) on eight hits with a strikeout.
Landrie Fridsma was 2-5 at the plate with four RBI and her first collegiate home run. Lizzy Rottenberk went 3-3 with two walks, three runs scored, and an RBI. Jordan Wesaw, Julia Rambo, and Jaycee Rider also hit multi-hit performances. Bella Caza, Emma Newlove, Wesaw, and Rider each had an RBI. Newlove was on base four times with a hit and three walks.
Up Next
Kalamazoo is scheduled to host Hope in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 20, at 1 p.m.