By: Athletic Communications Intern Jaden Hinton '25
BEREA, Ohio – For the first time in school history, the No. 21 nationally ranked Baldwin Wallace University softball team has won the Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship as it swept a Seniors' Day doubleheader over Capital University on the BW Softball Field at the Roehm Athletic Complex.
BW (29-2, 15-1 OAC), who has won three OAC Tournament titles, claims the regular season crown and the right to host the OAC Tournament from May 8 to 10.
In game one, the Yellow Jackets scored seven runs on eight hits as they plated one run in the third and fourth innings, three in the fifth and two in the sixth. Capital (13-20, 6-10) scored two runs on six hits as it pushed one run across the plate in the first and fourth innings.
At the Plate
- Senior All-OAC and Academic All-OAC first basemen Gillian Ryser (Hubbard) went 3-for-3 with a triple, two runs scored and a run batted-in (RBI)
- Senior Academic All-OAC center fielder Lexy Coggins (Vermillion/Firelands) went 2-for-3 with a run scored, three RBIs and a walk
- Three other BW hitters had a base knock highlighted by the triple from junior right fielder Steph Mraz (Strongsville)
In the Circle
- Senior All-OAC right hander Marisa Hall (Paris/East Canton) won her 17th game as she allowed two runs on six hits with two strikeouts and no walks
In game two, the Yellow Jackets earned their fourth shutout of the season as they scored 13 runs on 13 hits as they plated three runs in the first inning, one in the second and nine in the fourth. The Comets were held scoreless on three hits.
At the Plate
- Coggins went 3-for-3 with a triple, run scored and a career-high 4 RBIs
- Sophomore third baseman Mia Maddamma (North Royalton) went 2-for-2 with a double
- Six other BW hitters contributed a hit
In the Circle
- Junior righty Katie Barnhart (North Ridgeville) remained undefeated and earned her seventh win as she did not allow a run on two hits with a strikeout and two walks in four innings
- Senior right hander Taryn Welty (Medina/Wooster) pitched a scoreless fifth inning as she allowed one hit with a strikeout and walk
The Yellow Jackets are back in action on Saturday, May 3 when they travel to University Heights for the final ever OAC doubleheader meeting against crosstown rival John Carroll University on Bracken Field at 1 p.m.
