GRAND RAPIDS – The Bay College Softball Team (1-14, 1-7 MCCAA) picked up their first win of the season with a 17-6 victory in the opening game of a four-game set with the Grand Rapids Community College Raiders (10-9, 6-2 MCCAA). GRCC took the next three games by scores of 8-1, 14-12, and 11-3.

The Norse started off the weekend with a five-run first inning. They plated their first run when Hailee Duquaine (FR, Pulaski, WI) touched home safely on the back end of a double steal. Sierra Jones (SO, Calgary, AB) picked up the first RBI of the game with a single to right. Ava Mottin (SO, Williamston, MI) added an RBI hit, and with two outs Izzy Drabant (SO, Sandusky, MI) drove in a pair on a base hit.

After the Raiders responded with a run in the bottom half, the Norse put their first two hitters on in the second and scored a run off a suicide squeeze by Lexie Resseguie (FR, Fort Collins, CO). Zoe Rumble (SO, Blenheim, ON) came up with a two-out triple to add another run, giving the Norse a 7-1 lead early on.

The Norse continued to pour it on. RBI’s from Desiree Bender (SO, Sandusky, MI), Resseguie, and Rumble in the third extended the lead, but Grand Rapids scored just enough in the next two innings to keep the game alive.

Bay wouldn’t score again until the sixth when Bender lifted a double to center to send two runners home. They added four in the seventh as Mottin, Drabant, Amara Martinez (FR, Freeport, TX), and Duquaine all picked up RBI’s.

Drabant got the win in the pitching circle with a complete game effort. She scattered 12 hits, gave up six runs, only three of which were earned, walked five and struck out eight.

Rumble ended the game four for four with three RBI and two runs scored, which included that triple. Bender was four for five with three RBI, three runs scored, and a double. Duquaine was three for four with an RBI, two walks, and four runs scored, while Drabant also had three hits in four at bats. She picked up three RBI and scored twice. Jones and Mottin also had multi-hit efforts.

In game two it looked as though the Bay offense would keep rolling. They wasted no time getting a pair of runners on base and got them in scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Jones singled with two outs to put Bay up a run, but they would miss an opportunity for a big inning.

The Raiders answered back quickly. A lead-off triple by Amara Kline (FR, Portage, MI) and an ensuing walk set up a first and third situation. Kline scored on a double steal attempt, tying the game. Bay avoided a big inning, due in large part with a pick off of the following runner at third.

The Norse offense continued to get opportunities, but failed to produce the big hits. In the second they loaded the bases with one out with an error and singles by Martinez and Bender but could not plate a run. A lead off double from Jones in the third wound up being stranded. The Norse left a runner on in the fourth and had two on to start the fifth and still could not score.

Meanwhile the Raiders got things going in the third. A two-out error triggered the scoring and back-to-back doubles from Macey Springer (FR, Three Oaks, MI) and Britney Cisler (SO, Hudsonville, MI) made the score 4-1.

Cisler added an RBI double in the fifth and Grand Rapids put the game away in the sixth with three more runs. They retired the last eight Bay hitters in a row to end the game and even up the series.

Brynn McAurthur (SO, Lake Isabella, MI) was the winning pitcher. She went the distance and gave up seven hits, one earned run, two walks, and struck out five.

Allie Radcliffe (FR, Republic, MI) took the loss in three innings of work, though only one of the four runs she surrendered were earned. She gave up three hits and walked three. Bender pitched three innings in relief.

Jones was three of four with an RBI and a double for the Norse.

Kline, Springer, and Cisler each picked up a pair of hits for Grand Rapids.

There was plenty of offense as the two teams went back and forth in game three.

With the score tied at six Grand Rapids took a commanding lead with a big fifth inning. After a leadoff single a pair of errors sent a run to the plate. Springer singled in a run and Kline followed that with a two-run double and suddenly the Raiders had a 10-6 lead. They added four more in the top of the sixth, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Joslyn VanderHart (FR, Grandville, MI). Bay found themselves down by eight runs.

The Norse started to chip away in the bottom half of the sixth. Bender doubled to pick up a run and scored on Jones’ two-out triple to right field. Rumble singled with two strikes on her to pick up another RBI and make the score 14-9.

Down to their last out in the seventh, Bay continued to rally. Bender doubled again, this time to center, driving home two. Resseguie followed that with a triple, bringing the tying run to the plate, but the Norse rally would end with a fly out to center, and GRCC took a 14-12 victory.

Springer pitched the whole game and picked up the win for Grand Rapids. Eight of the 12 runs she gave up were earned.

Drabant took the loss for the Norse.

Resseguie led the offense for Bay with a 3-for-5 effort, an RBI, three runs scored, and two triples. Duquaine, Bender, Jones, and Rumble each had a pair of hits.

In the finale it was the Norse scoring first, but the Raiders running away late. Resseguie doubled in the first to drive in a run.

The Raiders wasted no time answering in the second. After a leadoff walk and stolen base, VanderHart tied the game with an RBI single. Three-run innings in the fourth and fifth put Grand Rapids in the driver’s seat for the game.

Though an error gave the Norse a run in the sixth, GRCC answered with three more runs in the top of the seventh. Another error plated a run for Bay in the bottom half, but they would fall by a final of 11-3.

Macy Huver (SO, Lowell, MI) was the winning pitcher. She went seven innings and gave up six hits, three runs, one earned, walked one, and struck out one.

Duquiane was two for four with a run scored.

The Norse are in action next on Tuesday, April 16 when they travel to Alpena Community College. The conference doubleheader starts at 2 p.m.