Gators Earn Split to Open Season

Mar 9, 2007

CNU Box | York Box

SALISBURY, Md. – The Allegheny College softball team earned a split in the opening day of the Sea Gull Invitational hosted by Salisbury University on Friday, March 9. The Gators opened with a 3-0 loss to Christopher Newport University in the first game, before bouncing back for a 3-1 decision over York College in game two.

With all three teams in Allegheny’s pool going 1-1 against each other, the Gators grabbed the top seed having allowed the fewest runs. They were rewarded with two early games on Saturday, March 10, fist playing Wilkes University at 10 a.m., followed immediately after by Lynchburg College at noon.

Allegheny found itself down quickly against Christopher Newport as the Lady Captains jumped ahead 1-0 in the first inning. They tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third before Gator starter Becca Rich (Gibsonia, Pa./North Allegheny) settled down, allowing just four batters to reach base over the final 3.1 innings.

Lady Captain pitcher Sarah Tipton kept the Allegheny bats quiet for most of the way, allowing just three hits through the first six innings. The Gators started a comeback against reliever Kristen Rowe in the top of the seventh, however, as Stephanie Lasinski (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine-Richland) picked up her second hit of the day with one-out double and Sarah Reilly (Dunkirk, N.Y./Dunkirk) followed with a single. Following a fly out, the game came to a close as Lasinski was tagged out on a fielder’s choice.

Game two turned into a win thanks to a strong pitching effort and some timely base-running. Freshman Alicia Morley (Sinclairville, N.Y./Cassadaga Valley) tossed seven innings in her starting debut, allowing just three hits, walking three, and striking out three. York’s lone run came via a suicide squeeze in the third inning, but Morley retired nine of the final 11 batters she faced to pick up her first career win.

Offensively, Allegheny got on the board for the first time this season in the bottom of the fourth inning. Junior Abby Bodenlos (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) opened with a leadoff walk, and then promptly swiped second and third base to set up an easy sacrifice fly for the next batter, Rachel Ryan (West Salem, Ohio/Northwestern).

The Gators jumped ahead 2-1 the very next inning as freshman Rebecca Burns (St. Rogersville, Pa./West Greene) led off the fifth with her first career home run. Allegheny added some insurance shortly after as Reilly walked, stole second, and came around to score on a single by Katie Wills (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour).

Burns finished game two 2-for-3 after adding a double in the sixth inning, while Lasinski had the hot bat in the opener, also going 2-for-3. Elizabeth Burr (Farmdale, Ohio/Badger) and Burns each reached base safely in both games, the former finishing the day 2-for-7 and the latter 3-for-6. Noteworthy, Allegheny was successful on all six of its stolen base attempts, including 4-for-4 against York.

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