Clermont, FL, 3/25/2022 – The Blue Jays softball team was looking to complete a double header sweep for the first time this young season on Friday when they took on the Harriers from the University Of Miami Hamilton out of Ohio. The Blue Jays got a stellar performance out of sophomore pitcher Erin Carr (Woodlawn, Il / Christ Our Rock Lutheran) and some timely hitting to power them to a 3-1 victory and a sweep on day one of the The Spring Games down in Florida. The win moves the Blue Jays record to 2-6 on the young season.
The Harriers struck first in the bottom of the second inning with the help of three walks and a RBI ground out to take the early 1-0 lead. The Blue Jays made their move to tie the game in the top of the third inning when Janae Shirk (Springfield, Mo. / Pleasant Hope) led off the inning with a triple. Sophomore Emily Esquivel (San Diego, Ca. / Eastlake) would follow with an RBI single to drive in Shirk to tie the game at 1-1.
The game would remain tied until the top of the fifth inning. The Blue Jays would stage a two-out rally. Esquivel got things started with a two out single. She would then steal second to get into scoring position. Laney Rosson (Columbia, Mo. / Battle) would then hit a go-ahead RBI triple driving in Esquivel to take a 2-1 lead. Raigan Mckee (Oologah, OK / Oologah) would then drive in Rosson with an RBI single to increase the lead to 3-1.
Carr (2-2) was dominant after giving up the run in the second inning. She shut the Harriers down the rest of the way allowing only two hits and a walk after the second inning. Her final line reads that she gave up one run on four hits in seven innings pitched. She struck out three and walked four in getting her second win on the season.
The Blue Jays will be back in action on Saturday in day two of The Spring Games in Clermont, Florida. The Jays will take on Elmhurst College at 9:15 a.m. CDT and then will take on St. Olaf College at 11:30 a.m. CDT.
