Softball Splits against Wayne State, 2-5, and Stonehill, 8-1
KISSIMMEE, FLA. (March 19, 2011) – The C.W. Post softball team split the final day at the Rebel Games on Saturday, dropping the first game to Wayne State, 2-5, but then bouncing back with an 8-1 win over Stonehill. The Pioneers now stand at 6-4 after the Florida trip.
In the first game of the final day at the Rebel Games, C.W. Post matched up with Wayne State for the second time this week, with the Pioneers winning the first game, 4-0. Sarah Kiser (Arnold, Md.) got the start as pitcher against the Warriors this time around.
The Warriors of Wayne State got the scoring going right away in the top of the first inning, as Allison Allen hit a leadoff double down the right field line. Allen was then sacrificed over to third base on a sacrifice bunt and then later driven in with a two out, RBI single by Brittany Omelanchuk.
Wayne State then pushed another run across during the top of the second inning. Rachel Spaccarotelli started off the inning the same way the Warriors did in the first with a double, this time the pitch was sent to the left field gap. Makelle Barski came in to pinch run for Spaccarotelli, as Barskie was sacrificed to third on a bunt. After a single by Logan White, Lauren Histed lay down a bunt that allowed Barski to score from third and making it a 2-0 game.
C.W. Post chipped into the 2-0 lead during the bottom half of the third, notching one run. Krysta Palazzo (Sea Cliff, N.Y.) singled through left side hole and then later advanced to second on a wild pitch. Carly Chamberlain (Nesco, N.J.) laid down a bunt to sacrifice Palazzo; however the ball was thrown past the first baseman, allowing Chamberlain to reach and Palazzo to score to make the Warrior lead down to 2-1.
However, during the top of the sixth, the Warriors put up two more runs to make the score 4-1. Allen singled through the right side with two runners on and then an error in right field allowed Spaccarotelli and White to score the third and fourth runs of the game for the Warriors.
Each team then added one run each to make the game 5-2, the final tally of the game and giving Wayne State the victory. Warrior starting pitcher Lauren McLaughlin went seven strong to earn the victory. McLaughlin allowed only two runs, with five hits while striking out four.
For the Pioneers, Kiser pitched 3.0 innings before being relieved by Hayley Bettles (Surrey, British Columbia), who finished the final 4.0 innings. Kiser dropped to 3-3 on the year after allowing two earned runs to go along with five hits allowed and striking out four. Bettles gave up the other three runs, with only being an earned run. The junior pitcher struck out five in her four innings of work, allowing five hits.
C.W. Post quickly changed fields to take on the Stonehill Skyhawks for the second game of the day, with Christina Berardi getting the start for the Pioneers on the mound.
The Skyhawks put one run on the board during the bottom half of the opening inning as Chelsea Stryker scored on an RBI single by Nicole Eisenmann.
That 1-0 lead did not last long though, as the very next half inning, Nicole Hagenah (Commack, N.Y.) hit her second homerun of the season, a solo shot to tie the game at 1-1.
After a few innings of a pitchers duel and scoreless softball, the Pioneers broke things open in the top of the sixth, scoring five runs. With one out, C.W. Post registered three straight singles. Nicole Capella (Shirley, N.Y.) then popped a single to short right field, scoring a runner. After a Palazzo walk brought home another run, Britney Agostini (Dover, Del.) scored on a fielder's choice error by the pitcher. Kaci Hopkins (New Egypt, N.J.) then registered a two-RBI single.
Agostini drove in Bright with a RBI single during the seventh and then scored during the next at bat as Agostini was driven home by Capella, giving the Pioneers some insurance runs going into the bottom of the seventh.
An 8-1 lead was plenty for starting pitcher, Berardi. The senior pitcher pitched the full seven innings, striking out six while only allowing five hits and no earned runs.
The Pioneers are back in action on Wednesday, March 23, at 3 p.m. for the home-opener against Adelphi.