Owls Kick Off MCCAA Conference Play against Mott and Schoolcraft

Waterford, MI- The Oakland Community College softball kicked off conference play this past weekend when they hosted Mott Community College on Friday for an afternoon double header at Highland Lakes, and visited Schoolcraft College on Saturday.

The Owls would go onto split the double header between the Bears, winning game one 4-3, and losing game two 9-0 in six innings, and would take both from the Ocelots with a 14-4 win in 5 innings in game one and a 5-2 win in game two.

After the weekend contests, the Owls start the conference season off 3-1 with their overall record moving to 4-6 against junior college opponents.

In game one against the Bears, sophomore Elyssa Frezza kept the Bear offense to a minimum as she threw 7 innings while giving up 3 runs, surrendering 9 hits, striking out 3 and walking 1. Offensively for the Owls, sophomore shortstop Elizabeth Pugh and freshman outfielder Kaitlynn Elkins both had 2 hits along with an RBI, while sophomore first basemen Katelynn Perry had a solo homerun in the bottom of the 5 inning, giving the Owls the lead and ultimately the win.

Game two saw the Bears bats get hot and the Owls cool off as freshman pitcher Abby Stefanski surrendered 4 runs in her 4 innings of work, while giving up 7 hits. The Owls went to Perry in relief who would throw the remaining 2 innings of work, while giving up an additional 5 runs. Sophomore catcher Sam Patrick and Frezza both collected 1 hit on the afternoon while Perry had 2.

Saturday's first contest saw the Owls bats explode for 14 runs as 7 Owls were credited with RBI's, including sophomore second basemen Riley Lane who had 3 on the afternoon. Pugh and Perry both had multi-hit performances for the Owls, while Pugh also added 3 stolen bases to her stat sheet. Frezza gave a similar performance on the mound as she did against the Bears as she threw all 5 innings, giving up 3 earned runs on 7 hits while striking out 6 and walking 3.

Game two against the Ocelots featured a great pitching performance from Stefanski as she went 7 strong innings, giving up 1 earned run on 9 hits while striking out 4 and walking 3. Pugh stayed hot in this one as she collected another multi-hit performance, while Stefanski helped her own cause in the circle by hitting an RBI double in the first inning.

Softball returns to the diamond tomorrow afternoon when they'll host Macomb Community College at 3pm and 5pm at Highland Lakes.