DURHAM 5, CONESTOGA 2

OSHAWA, Ont. - Heading into the final week of conference play, the Durham College women's softball team won three of four games over the weekend. In a battle of two of the top teams in the OCAA and the Lords' regular season finale on Sunday, Durham and Conestoga split their doubleheader.

With one game remaining in the regular season, the Lords (13-4) sit in a tie for first place in the OCAA standings with the St. Clair Saints (13-4). If Durham hopes to win the OCAA pennant, they will need to beat Conestoga and have St. Clair lose to Fanshawe. The Saints own the tiebreaker over Durham having won the season series 2-1. The Lords have finished in first place during the regular season 15 of the last 17 years.

Game one on Sunday was a seesaw battle with Conestoga eventually scoring the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning. Former Durham Lord Brittney Bell had a big game at the plate for the Condors as she went 2-for-4 with three RBI including a two-run home run in the first inning.

Graduating senior Lydia Kalbfleisch (Moorefield, Ont.) got the start for Durham and was one out shy of going the distance, as she allowed four earned runs on 10 hits. Conestoga starter Lauren Ruf limited the Lords to just six hits, while allowing three runs, one of which was earned. The Lords were aggressive on the base pads with five steals.

The Lords would bounce back in game two as they posted three runs in the sixth inning, which was capped off by a Kayla Gammie (Guelph, Ont.) two-run double. Caleigh Coels (Duncan, B.C.) had a perfect game batting as she was 3-for-3 with a run scored while Justine Pike (Whitby, Ont.) was 2-for-3 with a triple.

Ashley Black (Waterloo, Ont.) earned her fourth win of the season, as she was dominant striking out seven Condor hitters. She finished with two runs against, one of which was earned.

Durham will close out the regular season Wednesday with a rematch against Conestoga in Kitchener, Ont.

The Lords will also fly out to Calgary for the CCSA national championship that is set to take place from Oct. 10-13. Durham will be matched up in pool B with St. Clair, Calgary and Saskatchewan.

Source: Durham College

Photo Credit: Al Fournier