TUCSON, Ariz. -- Offense was the name of the game Sunday as the Jimmie softball team picked up two more wins, 12-8 over Park (Mo.) University and 8-0 over Northwest (Wa.) University.
In the opening game of the day, Park (3-2-1) took a 2-0 lead after an inning and a half, but the Jimmies came back to tie it up in their half of the second. Linda Ontiveros (JR/Yuma, AZ) hit a two-out single to right that scored Melora Smoke (FR/Portage la Prairie, MB, Canada) and Autumn Wang (SR/Devils Lake, ND). Smoke came on to pinch run after Hanna Dunnigan (JR/Regina, SK, Canada) singled to lead off the inning, then moved to third on Wang's double.
Park scored one run in the top of the third to reclaim the lead 3-2, but Dunnigan singled home Sydney Jeffers (SR/Richmond, BC, Canada) to bring Jamestown level again after three innings.
The bottom of the fourth saw the Jimmies erupt for nine runs, with the big blow coming on a Wang grand slam. With one out, Brook Rheault (SR/West Fargo, ND) singled and moved to second after a walk to Ontiveros. Emma Keller (SO/Poulsbo, WA) reached on an error by the second baseman, scoring Rheault. Jeffers sacrificed pinch runner Kalea Chapman (SR/Juneau, AK) and Keller to third and second, respectively. Rylee Perez (SR/Indio, CA)'s single scored Chapman and moved Keller to third. Emily Newman (SR/Victoria, BC, Canada) walked to load the bases, and Dunnigan walked to bring home Keller. Wang then followed with a blast over the left-field fence following a 13-pitch at bat in which she fouled off eight straight pitches. Chapman would hit a two-out, two run double to conclude the Jimmie fourth.
Trailing 12-3 heading into the fifth, Park would score four runs in the inning and add another in the sixth to trail 12-8 in their final at-bat. The Pirates would load the bases on three singles before Brittany Rheault (SO/West Fargo, ND) came in to shut the door with two outs to earn her first save of the season.
Perez and Wang each finished 2 for 4 at the plate. Seven other Jimmies registered a hit. Wang led the team with four runs batted in while Dunnigan, Chapman, and Ontiveros all drove in two.
Dunnigan (3-1) was the winning pitcher, despite allowing seven runs on eight hits in five innings. She walked three and struck out four. Keller pitched 1 2/3 innings and gave up five hits and an unearned run.
UJ 8, Northwest University 0 (6 innings)
After picking up the save in the Jimmies' first game of the day, Rheault fired a four-hit shutout in the nightcap as Jamestown blanked Northwest University 8-0.
Rheault (4-1) allowed singles in the second, third, fourth, and sixth innings while striking out four and walking one. It was her first shutout of the season.
UJ took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second, thanks to a bases-loaded walk to Kalea Chapman and a bases-clearing double from Sydney Jeffers.
Jamestown scored three more times in the bottom of the fourth. Rylee Perez doubled to score Kylie Macaig (FR/Airdrie, AB, Canada), who reached on a bunt single, and Jeffers, who reached on an error. Perez moved to third on a groundout and scored on Brittany Rheault's single.
Meghan Ramage (FR/Grand Forks, ND) scored the final Jimmie run in the bottom of the sixth, courtesy of Brittany Rheault's sacrifice fly. The game was called due to the eight-run rule.
Macaig finished 2 for 3 batting, scoring once and stealing a base. Seven other Jimmies had one hit, and Wang and Jeffers also stole a base. Jeffers led the way with three RBI, while Brittany Rheault and Perez each drove in two.
The Jimmies (8-3) will play three games Monday, taking on Missouri Valley College, Madonna (Mich.), and University of Great Falls.
