Box Score
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (March 8, 2009) – Freshman pitcher Hayley Choquette-Bettles (Surrey, British Columbia) tossed seven strong innings, giving up only six hits and two runs in her first collegiate start, helping the 10th-ranked softball team past Northwood University, 3-2, at the Rebel Games in Sunday morning softball action.

The game was the season opener for the Pioneers, who are now 1-0 on the season, while the Timberwolves slip to 5-6.

Northwood got on the scoreboard first as Tiffany Melgoza and Ashley Belling hit back to back singles to put runners on first and second. Melgoza came around to score on third baseman Megan Correia's (Seekonk, Mass.) throwing error, and Belling advanced to third, but on the next play, junior shortstop Christie Softy (Floral Park, Mass.) threw Belling out at the plate to end the threat.

The Pioneers did all of their damage in the fifth inning as Kristen Morcone (Milford, Mass.) led off the inning with a  single. A bunt single by Melissa Medina (Levittown, N.Y.) put runners on first and second, and a bunt by senior Ashley Marchese (Hauppauge, N.Y.) was misplayed by the Timberwolves infield, allowing Morcone to score, Medina to advance to third and Machese to move to second. With two outs, Softy hit a towering fly ball to second base that Laura Bettcher could not hold onto, and Marchese and Medina scored on the error.

Northwood put up a fight in the bottom of the seventh, as Ashley Slusser singled to right with one out and advanced to second on first baseman's interference. Angela Comer's single to right field scored Slusser and put the tying run on first base, but Bettles got pinch hitter Katherin Johnson to line out to second and Michelle Boscola to fly out to left field to finish off the win.

Medina led the Pioneers offensively with two hits. Kerry Fisher (Boyertown, Pa.), Softy, Correia and Morcone also had hits for the C.W. Post offense.

Sheena Smith took the loss for Northwood, who got a 2-for-3 outing from Slusser.

The Pioneers will play Wheeling Jesuit this afternoon at 3 p.m.