On Friday, the Bluejays were swept by Kansas Wesleyan, and were outscored 29-2 in two five-inning games. But the double-header against the Saint Mary was hotly contested.
In Game 1, Spires left fielder Heather Russell singled past shortstop Stefanie Regrut to spark a three-run rally on the way to a 4-1 win. Saint Mary loaded the bases behind Russell, and right fielder Brittania Sangder cleared them with a double.
?They came out strong, and that proved to be the key hit in the ballgame,? Tabor coach Steve Berg said.
But in the bottom of the first, Tabor loaded the bases. Clancey Kelley led off with a triple, and Regrut followed with an RBI single. A fielder?s choice left Danielle Goossen at first, and she advanced to third on a pair of errors. But Spires hurler Meghan Walsh notched an inning-ending strikeout and allowed just one baserunner the rest of the way.
In Game 2, Tabor grabbed the upper hand in the first frame and never let go.
In the bottom of the first, the Bluejays loaded the bases. Kelley singled stole second. Regrut drew a walk, and April Funk laid down a bunt that made for one quick run and one quick runner on third. A two-base throwing error on the play paved the way for a pair of walks that forced in a second run.
Leading 2-0 after three innings, Tabor doubled its advantage in the bottom of the fourth. Pitcher Erin Wiebe reached base on an error and Kelley bunted for a single. Regrut?s sacrifice bunt advanced the runners, then Goossen singled, scoring both Wiebe and Kelley.
In the top of the sixth, Saint Mary converted a leadoff walk and a pair of doubles into two runs, but Wiebe struck out Sangder to stop the bleeding.
?Erin Wiebe pitched a great game,? Berg said. ?Our team played solid defense behind her, and our offensive production was the most timely all year.?
Tabor struck for three more runs to secure its first win.
