By Staff
Brandywine High School senior Nicki McGowen became just the 15th player in Michigan history to earn 100 career pitching victories.
Already the Brandywine record holder, McGowen picked up No. 100 in a 3-2 win over Lafayette Jefferson in the first round of Saturday's Penn (Ind.) Tournament.
McGowen improved to 3-0 on the year and 100-14 for her career by tossing 15 strikeouts while walking one batter and giving up just two hits in the nine-inning affair.
Amber Valentine drove in the winning run with a single in the bottom of the ninth. Angela Newman scored the winning run after starting the inning on second base because of the international tie-breaker rule.
Brandywine (3-2) managed seven hits against Jefferson, led by Valentine's double and two singles. Newman added two singles while Michelle Shoemaker and Dee Echevarria each doubled.
McGowen was unable to add further to her win total as the Bobcats dropped their next two games Saturday.
Penn beat Brandywine 3-1 and Merrillville topped the Bobcats, 1-0.
Against Penn, McGowen gave up five hits and struck out 13 batters with three walks. The Bobcats managed five hits against Penn pitcher Katy Westberg.
McGowen held Merrillville to two hits as she struck out 11 and walked just two. The Bobcats, however, committed an error and managed just three hits. Emily Christiansen doubled to pace the Brandywine offensive effort.
McGowen is now 100-16 for her career. Waterford Kettering's Jessica Brubaker owns the state record for wins in a career with 139. LaTonya Coates of Bangor has the highest win total among pitchers in Southwest Michigan with 121.
Brandywine returns to action Friday at Bridgman in a Lakeland Conference doubleheader at 4 p.m.