Greenwell slam caps Skipjacks’ latest sweep
WYE MILLS – Samantha Greenwell had a grand time Wednesday afternoon, capping a two-homer day with a game-ending grand slam in the nightcap as Chesapeake College swept visiting Frederick Community College, 6-5 and 18-7 in six innings, to stay unbeaten.
Greenwell didn't have a lot to say about the slam – "I was just looking for a hit," said the sophomore – but was much more loquacious when speaking about a Skipjack squad that is now 14-0 and ranked 20th in the nation.
"We're going to Mississippi," said Greenwell, referring to the site of this year's NJCAA Division II national tournament. "We've worked hard – we put in the effort outside of practice; we've got great chemistry; we can go a long way."
Greenwell sent the last pitch she saw a long way, connecting for a slam that cleared the center-field fence to cap an eight-run sixth inning that invoked the eight-run slaughter rule.
"That was no wind-blown popup. She crushed that dog," said Chesapeake head coach Durrie Hayes.
Chesapeake, now 6-0 in the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference, seemed ready to finish off the Cougars an inning earlier after building a 10-2 lead. Instead, Frederick (5-3 overall, 4-2 league) scored three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth to keep the game going.
Undaunted, the Skipjacks – who finished with 19 hits in Game 2 – answered with their sixth-inning explosion to complete the sweep.
Ali Jones (2-for-3), Hannah Stringer (3-for-5), Kaley Schreiber (3-for-5, two doubles, four RBI) and Stephanie Weyermiller (3-for-4, home run, four RBI) each delivered RBI hits in the sixth before Greenwell (2-for-4) launched her walk-off slam.
"She (Greenwell) struggled for a couple of days in Florida," said Hayes, referring to the team's recent, eight-game spring break trip. "She and (assistant coach) Jay (Chance) talked and she made an adjustment in her swing and she's been hitting the ball hard ever since."
Kellieann Tyner (two RBI) and Taryn Zietlow (double, RBI) were the sixth and seventh Skipjacks with multiple-hit games in the nightcap.
Tyner (7-0) earned the complete-game win while allowing seven earned runs on 11 hits. She struck out four with no walks.
Chesapeake had to come from behind late to win Game 1. Trailing 3-1, Stringer walked, stole second and scored on Greenwell's game-tying homer to right center in the home fifth.
The Skipjacks used a three-run sixth to break the tie. Kellieann Tyner singled and Cheyenne Riley beat out a bunt for a hit to start the rally. Sarah Straub then laid down another bunt, with Tyner beating the throw to third to load the bases.
Michelle Lawrenson's RBI single put the Skipjacks ahead, 4-3, and Stringer followed with a run-scoring hit to make it 5-3. Straub scored on a wild pitch to cap the inning.
Frederick made the game interesting in the seventh as Cheyenne Wolistszsky singled and Olivia Lagos hit a two-out, two-run homer to pull the Cougars within 6-5. Michele Deshazor then flew out to end the game.
Greenwell (three RBI), Stringer (two steals), and winning pitcher Riley (4-0) each had two hits. Riley gave up five runs – four of them earned – on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Hayes thought the Skipjacks hit well, but said the other aspects of his team's game weren't up to their normal level.
"When they're clicking, we're going to score a lot of runs," said Hayes. "Our pitching wasn't sharp today and we had four errors and a couple of balls that should have been caught that weren't caught. Defensively, we were just a little slow."
Hayes hopes the 12 runs given up in the doubleheader was an aberration.
"That's a lot of runs for us to give up," said Hayes, who also praised Frederick's offense.
"I was impressed with Frederick. This is the best Frederick team I've seen since my first year here (2008)," said Hayes. "They could all hit. Nobody's hit against us this year like Frederick did. They had 11 hits in the second game."
Chesapeake plays a 3 p.m. league doubleheader Friday at the College of Southern Maryland.