Jacks Sweep Norse in Conference Play
ALPENA, Mich. — April 11, 2026
The Alpena Community College softball team turned in a dominant performance on Saturday, sweeping the Bay College Norse in a home doubleheader by scores of 9-1 and 18-1. The sweep pushed the Lumberjacks to 3-20 overall and 3-8 in MCCAA Northern Conference play, with pitcher-slugger Jordan Ashley stealing the show across both games.
Jordan Ashley was masterful in the circle in the opener, going all five innings and allowing just one earned run on three hits while striking out six. She also contributed at the plate with a home run and three RBI, making her the clear two-way catalyst of the victory.
ACC wasted no time establishing its offensive tone. Dakota Rachow got things started with a leadoff triple in the bottom of the first, and Alaina Neubecker followed with an RBI single to put the Lumberjacks on the board. The second inning saw the offense erupt for three more runs — Magdalyn Sandoval reached and stole second, Ava Rospierski singled her home, and back-to-back knocks from Rachow and Kirsten Neubecker extended the lead, with a Bay College passed ball adding another run for a 4-0 cushion.
Ashley drove in another run in the third with an RBI single to score Alaina Neubecker, making it 5-0 heading into the final two frames.
Bay College broke through in the fifth on a Christina Bower double and a Hope Varoni RBI single, but Ashley promptly answered in the bottom half. Kirsten Neubecker doubled to lead off, and after a groundout moved courtesy runner Autumn Kazyaka to third, Alaina Neubecker singled her home. Then Ashley delivered the knockout blow — a two-run home run to center field that plated Alaina Neubecker and sealed the 9-1 final.
Notable Performances, Game 1:
- Jordan Ashley (W, 1-0): 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K; 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, 1 R
- Alaina Neubecker: 3-for-3, 1 RBI, 2 R, 2 SB
- Dakota Rachow: 2-for-3, 3B, 1 RBI, 2 R
- Kirsten Neubecker: 2-for-3, 2B, 1 RBI
- Ava Rospierski: 1-for-2, 1 RBI, 1 R
If the opener was a statement, the nightcap was an exclamation point. ACC sent a staggering 15 runs across the plate in the fourth inning alone, turning a 3-1 lead into an 18-1 rout and earning the mercy-rule victory in five innings.
Allison Whitaker started in the circle and was solid through three innings, allowing just one run on four hits before giving way to Jenna Sircely, who closed out the final two frames with two strikeouts and a walk while allowing nothing.
The game's story was written in the fourth inning. With the Lumberjacks leading 3-1, Ava Rospierski led off with a solo home run to center — her second long ball of the doubleheader — to extend the lead to 3-1 heading in. Then the inning simply refused to end. The Lumberjacks sent 19 batters to the plate, collecting nine hits, drawing seven walks, and capitalizing on Bay College miscues to score 15 runs. Jordan Ashley delivered the big blow — a two-run home run to center — finishing the inning with two RBI and capping a 5-RBI, two-homer afternoon. Rilee Tracy added a bases-clearing single during the barrage, finishing 1-for-1 with four RBI on the day. Rospierski also went deep again in the fourth, giving her two home runs across the two games.
Dakota Rachow was a force throughout the nightcap as well, going 2-for-5 with a double, three runs scored, and steady work in center field.
Notable Performances, Game 2:
- Jordan Ashley: 2-for-4, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 2 R
- Ava Rospierski: 2-for-2, HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB
- Rilee Tracy: 1-for-1, 4 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB
- Dakota Rachow: 2-for-5, 2B, 3 R
- Magdalyn Sandoval: 1-for-3, 2B, 1 RBI, 2 R, BB
- Allison Whitaker (W, 1-0): 3 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
The Lumberjacks return to action next weekend, hosting Muskegon Community College for a home series on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18. Come out and support your Lumberjacks as they look to build on a statement sweep. Stay tuned to ACC Athletics for game times and additional details.