Briercrest vs University of Calgary

Briercrest faced third place, and WCSA defending champions University of Calgary to start Saturday play at 10:00 am, which ended in a 0-0 pitcher’s duel.

The game began as a pitchers dual with both Briercrest’s Kenzie Derdall and the University of Calgary’s Meghan Allan not allowing any runs after two innings.

Derdall was walked to start that game. Alexis Ferguson followed that up with a single in the first inning and Emily Giesbrecht singled in the second, but all runners were left stranded.

Ferguson had a clutch double with two out in the third, Ali Kowalenko  followed that up with a  single to advance Ferguson to third. Kowalenko then stole second to put two runners into scoring position, but Jessica Bailey struck out swinging to keep the score at zeroes going into the bottom of the third. Two Calgary batters got singles before Derdall struck out and forced a ground ball out to end the second at 0-0.

The fourth inning Kayla Alexan moved to first on an error, before Laura Vogt got a singled into a fielder’s choice. Emily Giesbrecht got hit by a pitch to advance to move Vogt to second. Both runners were left stranded. Derdall continued her strong play, allowing one baserunner off an error before striking out to end the final batter to end the fourth inning 0-0.

The fifth inning started with a hard single from Derdall, before she got caught stealing second. Alexis Ferguson walked before stealing second. Ali Kowalenko singled Ferguson to third before stealing second herself. Both runners were left stranded as Calgary forced a strikeout and ground ball out. Sarah Richards made a nice catch in left field to start the bottom of the fifth. Derdall then struck out the next batter.

Alexan was hit by a pitch to start the sixth inning. Vogt then singled and Alexan was called out on a fielder’s choice. Calgary was able to get through the inning unscathed. Calgary was able to get players onto second and third with only one out before Derdall struck out the next two batters swinging to preserve the 0-0 tie against Calgary.

Briercrest vs University of Saskatchewan

Briercrest played WCSA second-place University of Saskatchewan in the third of four round robin games Saturday afternoon, ending in an exciting 8-8 tie.

Kenzie Derdall opened the game for Briercrest with a single and then advanced to second when Ali Kowalenko was hit by a pitch, but both runners were left stranded. Laura Vogt started the game pitching for Briercrest, and after Sarah Richards made a nice catch in left field, Saskatchewan responded in the bottom of the first with a triple and double to make the score 1-0 for Saskatchewan after one.

Briercrest came out swinging in the second inning starting with a single by Richards and a triple by Laura Vogt to tie the game. Kelsey Goertzen brought Vogt in with a single and then advanced to second off a wild pitch. Ferguson then hit a homerun to left field to make the score 4-1 for Briercrest after two innings. Saskatchewan left one runner stranded off two catches by Richards in left field and a ground ball out.

Briercrest continued their hot bats in the third inning with a single by Jessica Bailey and Bryann Seib, followed by a walk by Emily Giesbrecht. Giesbrecht got caught at first after a fly ball out, before Vogt cleared the bases with a double to make the score 6-1. Goertzen was then hit by a pitch and advanced on a wild pitch. Derdall then hit a single to make the score 7-1 for Briercrest and forcing a pitching change for Saskatchewan, bringing in Haley Volk into the game. A wild pitch brought Goertzen in and advanced Derdall before the top of the third ended with an 8-1 lead for Briercrest. Saskatchewan used some singles and sacrifice bunts to make the score 8-2 after three innings.

Saskatchewan’s Volk made quick work of Briercrest in the fourth inning, striking out the side. Saskatchewan came out swinging in the fourth using several singles and sacrifice bunts to move players into scoring position. With two outs a fielding error allowed Saskatchewan to keep their inning alive and they used several more singles and fielding errors to bring the score to 8-5 to end the fourth inning.

Richards hit a single in the fifth, but two strike outs and a ground out kept Briercrest from scoring in the top of the inning. Ferguson took the mound for Briercrest in the bottom of the fifth, along with several defensive line-up changes. Saskatchewan hit a single and a triple and cut the Briercrest lead to 8-6.

Saskatchewan’s Volk had two straight strikeouts and a pop out in the sixth, before Saskatchewan used a walk, sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly, before two straight doubles made the score 8-8.

Saskatchewan’s Volk continued her strong pitching forcing a ground out before striking out two straight Briercrest batters. After Ferguson allowed three straight singles to start the bottom of the seventh and final inning of the game Briercrest’s fielder’s made some smart plays. Ferguson threw out a forced runner at home, followed by a Kowalenko catch in centre field and throw out tag to Briercrest catcher Jessica Bailey to end the game with an 8-8 tie.

Briercrest vs SAIT

Postponed to Sunday morning due to the rain.

Sunday’s schedule has been revised to the following:

1)      9:30 am

1. Briercrest vs SAIT
2.  Calgary vs Saskatchewan

2)      11:30 am

1. Regina vs Saskatchewan
2. Calgary vs SAIT

3)      1:30 pm

1. 1^st vs 2^nd
2. 3^rd vs 4^th

4)      3:30 pm – loser ½ vs winner ¾

5)      5:30 pm winner of ½  vs winner of game 4

For more information on the WCSA click here.

To follow the Briercrest Softball this year follow the Briercrest Softball facebook page.