Softball: Lady Blue Jays clinch bid to SLIAC tournament

MT. PLEASANT, Iowa - The Westminster College Lady Blue Jays softball team remains on a perfect path in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Westminster clinched a berth in the SLIAC postseason tournament by sweeping Wednesday's doubleheader against Iowa Wesleyan University. The Lady Blue Jays (18-14, 14-0 SLIAC) won the opener 8-1 and prevailed 11-1 in five innings in the second game.

Westminster was coming off a SLIAC sweep at home over Fontbonne University on Tuesday, pulling out a 4-3 victory in the first game and an 8-2 triumph in the nightcap.

Sophomore starter Katie Price (12-6) threw a one-hitter for the Lady Blue Jays in Wednesday's opener, giving up an earned run while striking out two and walking one. Price helped herself at the plate by going 2-for-3 with a run batted in and a run scored.

Senior left fielder Amber Tepen went 2-for-4 with three RBI and scored a run as Westminster erupted for 15 hits. The Lady Blue Jays put up two runs apiece in the first and second innings, tacked on a run in the third and sealed the win with three runs in the sixth.

Sophomore second baseman Brooke Laidley finished 3-for-5 with a double and scored twice for Westminster, while freshman center fielder Emily Holloway was also 3-for-5 with two runs scored.

Sophomore right fielder Mackenzie Myers went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI, two stolen bases and scored a run.

The Lady Blue Jays broke out for seven runs in the top of the first in the second game, added a run in the third and tallied four in the fourth to build an 11-0 advantage. Iowa Wesleyan (7-23, 5-12 SLIAC) scored its lone run in the bottom of the fourth, but the game was called on the mercy rule after five innings.

Sophomore third baseman Madison Washington finished 1-for-2 with a three-run home run in the first as Westminster finished with 12 hits. Price - serving as the designated player - went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI and scored a run.

Freshman shortstop Brooklyn Bledsoe was 2-for-2 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored for the Lady Blue Jays. Holloway finished 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored, while sophomore starter Madison Ingram went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and scored once.

Ingram (6-6) went the distance for the victory, allowing an unearned run on eight hits. She struck out four and issued one walk.

Westminster - winners of 10 of its last 12 - goes back out on the road for a SLIAC doubleheader at Greenville (Illinois) College at 2 p.m. today.