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Gators Win in Extra Innings
March 20, 2008
KISSIMMEE, Fla. – After seeing their first game of the day cancelled because of rain, the Allegheny College Gators (5-5) improved to 5-2 during their Florida trip after a 5-3 eight-inning victory over Montlcair State University. The Gators scored a two-out run in the seventh inning to push the game to extra innings, before putting up two more in the eighth to pick up the win.
Allegheny started quickly, as leadoff hitter Abby Bodenlos (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) singled through the left side and stole second base. A sacrifice bunt moved Bodenlos to third where she was driven in when Rachel Ryan (West Salem, Ohio/Northwestern) singled to second base, giving the Gators a 1-0 lead.
The Blue and Gold doubled their lead in the fifth inning when Marci Potuzko (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area) tripled down the right field line, and scored when the Red Hawk right fielder dropped a fly ball off the bat of Ryan. Montclair State quickly responded, scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, taking a 3-2 lead.
The MSU lead stood until the seventh inning, when with two outs, Liz Burr (Farmdale, Ohio/Badger) singled before Potuzko and Ryan both walked to load the bases. Katie Wills (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, knotting the game at three with the hard-earned RBI.
After setting the Red Hawks down in order in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Gators got a pair of runs in the top of the eighth, as Maggie Bodenlos (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) and Rebecca Burns (Rogersville, Pa./West Greene) were driven in on an error by the Montclair third baseman. MSU’s rally in their half of the eighth inning did not come into fruition, as the Gators held on for the 5-3 victory.
Potuzko was 2-for-4 at the plate for Allegheny, with Abby Bodenlos going 2-for-5. Each of the five runs came from different batters, as did each of the team’s three runs batted in.
Amanda Downey (Essex Junction, Vt./Essex) picked up the win, pitching the entire eight innings, scattering six hits and allowing just the three earned runs while striking out a pair.
The Gators end their Florida trip with a double header on Friday, March 21 when they face off against Rowan and Otterbein at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m., respectively.