April 7, 2007

by Jay Stancil - Union College Sports Information Director -

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - April 6 - A couple of records fell by the wayside Saturday as Union College swept visiting Pikeville (Ky.) College 6-2 and 6-4.

The first record that fell was the single-season record for stolen bases as junior Lyla Blauser (Hopkinsville, Ky.) swiped two to give her 31 on the season, surpassing the old mark of 30 which she set just last year. She is also the career record holder with 88 stolen bases.

The wins helped the Lady Bulldogs break another record as they now boast a 23-15 overall mark, giving them the most wins in a season in program history. The previous record was 22 when Union posted a 22-17 mark in 1997 - the only winning season in program's 13-year existence.

Additionally, the team achieved another first as both Sarah Driver (Hopkinsville, Ky.) and Jenna Gray (Lakeland, Fla.) picked up victories. Driver improved to 13-6 on the year with Gray going to 10-9, making it the first-time ever that Union had two pitchers win 10 games in a season.

In the opener, Union overcame a 1-0 deficit en route to the 6-2 victory.

After three scoreless frames, Pikeville drew first blood in the top of the fourth. However, Union came back with three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-1 advantage. Samantha Bridges (Jackson, Tenn.) had a sac fly to score a run, while Ashlee Bertsch (Hamilton, Ohio) and Driver each had run-scoring singles.

Union extended the lead to 6-1 with another three-run rally in the fifth. Pikeville tacked on a run in the sixth, but it was too little, too late as the Lady Bulldogs posted the 6-2 decision.

Blauser went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Lee Davis (Lexington, Ky.) was 2-of-4 with two runs scored. Bertsch went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a RBI with Bridges batting 2-of-3 with a RBI.

Driver struck out seven in allowing two runs on five hits and three walks. At the plate, she was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

In the finale, Union faced a two-run deficit twice and needed a three-run rally in the fifth to pull out the 6-4 win.

Down 4-2 in the fifth, Union took advantage of a couple of Pikeville errors to push three runs across in grabbing a 5-4 lead. In the sixth, Blauser swept her 31st base of the season and then scored on Kaila McSpedon single to make it 6-4.

McSpedon went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Blauser was 2-of-4 with two runs scored. Davis, Brdiges and Suzannah Behnken (Tempe, Ariz.) each had a RBI in the win.

Gray allowed four runs - all unearned, on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts.