Gators Fall to Denison, Will Play Game Seven

May 5, 2007

Box Score

GRANVILLE, Ohio – The Allegheny College Gators gave up four seventh-inning runs turning a 1-0 lead into a 4-1 deficit, amid a steady rain storm, as the Denison University Big Red pulled out a victory in the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament, forcing the two teams to a seventh and final game.

Neither team could gain momentum through the early portions of the game. Allegheny threatened in the fifth inning when Stephanie Lasinski (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine Richland) reached via an error, advancing to second base when the throw went into the Gator dugout. With Maggie Bodenlos (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) pinch running for the sophomore, Crystal Ptacek (Allison Park, Pa./North Allegheny) singled up the middle, but the throw from center field was on target, narrowly throwing out the younger Bodenlos.

The Gators were able to squeeze a run across the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning when Katie Wills (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour) walked and advanced to second base on a passed ball. Rachel Ryan (West Salem, Ohio/Northwestern) followed with a single, moving Wills to third, before an error by the center fielder allowed the freshman to score, giving the hosts on the scoreboard a 1-0 advantage.

Needing a rally, the Big Red bats came alive, scoring four runs on four hits a walk and two errors. The defense came up big to end the inning, as the Big Red had a runner on second base with one out, before a flyout to right field turned into a double play when the runner attempted to advance on the play, but was thrown out at third base by Liz Burr (Farmdale, Ohio/Badger), ending the inning.

Needing a trio of runs to tie the game, the hosts got only a walk to Ptacek, as the Gators ended the game with the three-run loss.

Ptacek and Ryan were each 2-for-3, with the duo picking up four of the team’s six hits. Wills scored the team’s only run, which was brought in without an RBI. Alicia Morley (Sinclairville, N.Y./Cassadaga Valley) picked up the loss, pitching the entire seven innings, as she had her 13-inning scoreless streak against the Big Red snapped in the seventh inning. The first-year pitcher struck out three and walked three, while scattering six hits, dropping her season record to 9-10 on the year.

Emily Sack went 2-for-4 for Denison, as each of the other four hits came from different batters. Mary Beth Krolikowski had all of the team’s RBI’s with two, as the other two runs were unearned off the pair of errors in the seventh inning. Jen Anthony picked up the win, striking out four in seven innings of work, improving her record to 7-4 on the year.

The loss sends the team into a seventh game of the championships, the Gators second game of the day and Denison’s third.

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