FINISHING STRONG: Norse Women Top Skipjacks

TITUSVILLE, Fla.---The Bay College Norse softball team finished the Florida trip on Friday by beating the Chesapeake Skip Jacks, 9-1, at Chain Of Lakes Park in Titusville, Fla.

The Norse got a complete-game pitching performance from Eden Oswald as she scattered three base hits and struck out ten batters.

“Throw hard and try to win,” Oswald said of her game plan. “My fastball, and a little bit of my drop curve, but not great. The defense behind me was phenomenal, the outfielders and infielders, everyone does their job.”

“We’re off to a strong start to the season and we’re excited to keep it going,” Norse Coach Heidi Charon said. “This is a really, really special team, and I’ve enjoyed spending time with them this week. I don’t think we’re hating each other yet, even though it’s been a long week! So, that’s a good sign.”

The Skipjacks took a 1-0 lead on a walk to Jozie Wilson and an RBI double by Brea Bishop brought the rin home. But Bay got even in the bottom of the inning as Kaitlyn Hardwick singled past the shortstop and Maddy Griffin pushed one past the left fielder for an RBI double.

The Norse took the lead in the second inning as Morgan Letteriello led off with a hit, was bunted to second by Beth Gannigan, and scored on a wild pitch.

Heather Bergstrom led off the fourth inning with a double and eventually scored on an error to make it 3-1, then in the fifth inning, Oswald led off with a single, and after another Hardwick hit, scored on a sacrifice fly by Griffin.

The Norse put the game away with five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, with Gannigan getting an RBI single up the middle, and Taylor Hunter contributed an RBI with a grounder to third.

The game ended when Bergstrom ripped a double with the bases loaded, scoring two runs to make it a 9-1 final.

Hardwick led the way at the plate by going 3-for-4, scoring two runs, from the #2 spot in the batting order. Griffin and Bergstrom both had two runs batted in.

Bishop took the loss on the mound for the Skipjacks (0-3), allowing all nine runs, with just three of those runs earned.

“This is huge,” Charon said. “We’ve got a big regional seeding tournament coming next week in Minnesota, and we’re excited to be going into that strong.”

That, howwver, will have to wait, as the NJCAA made this announcement Frday afternoon:

"As we continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation as it impacts our member colleges, the NJCAA has made the decision to suspend all spring competition beginning Saturday, March 14 through Friday, April 3 along with the postponement of basketball championships until April 20.

The NJCAA is also extending the hardship season completion ruling to 60% - should teams cancel their season before the limit is reached, student-athletes will not be charged a year of eligibility.

For the 2020-21 season, the NJCAA is also increasing its allowable number of Letters of Intent which will be vetted by the Eligibility Committee. Our goal is to look after the safety and security of all involved, while also still providing a pathway to allow opportunities for our student-athletes and the ability to compete for a national championship. The NJCAA will continue to monitor and make adjustments as needed."

Bay College (7-7) finished the Florida trip with a 6-6 record.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS above to see photos and videos taken by Brad Landis, and to hear post-game comments from Charon and Oswald.