Gators Split at Florida Day 3

Mar 19, 2008

ILLINOIS WESLEYAN BOX SCORE | CLARKE BOX SCORE

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Following a day off during their spring trip, the Allegheny College Gators (4-5) split a pair of games on Wednesday, falling 9-5 to the Illinois Wesleyan Titans (4-1) before rebounding with a seven-run seventh inning as the team was able to turn a 3-2 deficit into a 9-3 victory over Clarke College (4-4).

In the opener against Illinois Wesleyan, the Titans started the scoring with a pair of runs in the second inning. After adding three more runs in the top of the third inning, opening a 5-0 lead, the Gators rallied with a three-run third inning. Maggie Bodenlos (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) opened the inning with a single to third base, before stealing second. Allison Korotkin (Birmingham, Mich./Detroit Country Day) walked, before the pair recorded a successful double-steal, with Bodenlos scoring on an errant throw by the Titan catcher. Abby Bodenlos (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) followed with a double to left center, scoring Korotkin, before being driven in on a Marci Potuzko (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area) RBI single.

IWU scored two more runs in the top of the fourth inning, before the Blue and Gold caught up one of those runs when Maggie Bodenlos drove in Katie Wills (McKeesport, Pa./Montour) with a sacrifice fly to center field. After holding the Titans scoreless in the fifth inning, Allegheny got another run in their half of the fifth frame when a Potuzko double scored Liz Burr (Farmdale, Ohio/Badger), cutting the deficit to 7-5.

The 7-5 score would be as close as Allegheny would come, with the Titans adding two more runs in the top of the sixth inning, giving the game its 9-5 final score. Potuzko led the Gators with a pair of hits and runs driven in; with five other players picking up the team’s other five hits. Korotkin picked up the loss in the pitching circle, allowing just one earned run and striking out three in three innings of work.

The Gator bats started quietly in the afternoon contest, with the Blue and Gold recording just two hits through the first five innings of the contest; however, one of the hits was a solo home run from senior Abby Bodenlos. Allegheny’s run was sandwiched by a pair of scoring innings from Clarke, as the Crusaders scored two runs in the second inning and another in the bottom of the third.

Allegheny cut into the 3-1 deficit with a run in the sixth inning, when Potuzko hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Abby Bodenlos, who opened the inning with a single and a stolen base before advancing to third on the team’s first out of the inning.

Down 3-2 heading into their final at-bats, the Gator bats came alive, scoring four runs before there was an out on the scoreboard, scoring seven runs in all. Maggie Bodenlos opened the frame with a triple to right center, before Rebecca Burns () doubled, driving in the younger Bodenlos. After an Amanda Downey (Essex Junction, Vt./Essex) walk, Korotkin drove in the eventual game-winning run with a single to right center. An Abby Bodenlos single loaded the bases before Burr singled through the left side, scoring Sarah Reilly (Dunkirk, N.Y./Dunkirk) and Downey. After the first out of the inning, Rachel Ryan (West Salem, Ohio/Northwestern) singled, driving in Bodenlos, taking the Gator lead to 7-3. A Wills groundout scored the elder Bodenlos, before Maggie Bodenlos, who opened the inning with a triple, drove in Ryan with a single up the middle.

The Crusaders were only able to muster a hit and a walk in the bottom of the seventh inning, neither of which crossed the plate, sending the Gators home with a 9-3 come-from-behind victory.

Abby Bodenlos and Ryan were each 3-for-4 batting in the game, with Maggie Bodenlos going 2-for-4. Abby Bodenlos scored three times, with Burr driving in a pair. In all, eight Gators drove in at least one run in the game, while seven different players crossed the plate. Downey picked up the win, going the entire seven innings, allowing eight hits and just one earned run while striking out four.

The Gators take to the fields again tomorrow, where they will face off against 5-3 Loras College at 11:00 a.m. and 5-1 Montclair State at 3:00 p.m.

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