St. Norbert Bounces Back With Two Wins at MWC Classic

From Sports Information Director, April 12, 2014 | Softball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

EAST PEORIA, Ill. - St. Norbert College rebounded from a rough first day at the Midwest Conference Classic with two wins at Eastside Centre. The Green Knights routed Knox College 11-3 in five innings before tipping defending MWC champion Cornell College 2-0 in nine innings.

St. Norbert's Morgan Rusch and Cornell's Jackie Sernek were locked in a pitchers' duel until the Green Knights broke through in the top of the ninth inning. Samantha Gross had a two-out infield single to drive in the first run, and Codi Jenshak's double two hitters later drove in the second run.

Rusch twirled a two-hit shutout, allowing singles in the fifth and seventh innings. She did not walk a batter and struck out three. Sernek allowed four hits - three in the ninth inning - and did not walk a batter and struck out three.

In the opener, St. Norbert (9-12, 4-2 MWC North) pounded out 12 hits. Jessica DeMeuse had an RBI single in the first inning, while Abby Gildernick had an RBI single in the second inning, a frame where two runs scored on an error.

MacKenzie Hazen tripled in two runs and Allison Binder singled in a run in the fourth inning, and the Green Knights scored two unearned runs in the fifth inning to end the game.

Tayler Long was 3-for-3 with two runs scored to lead the Green Knights, while DeMeuse was 2-for-3 and JoAnna Ruppa was 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Brianna Byrne got the win, allowing seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts in a complete-game effort.