Softball Drop Two Competitive Games at the Rebel Games, 1-3 and 6-8
Box Scores: Game 1;Game 2
KISSIMMEE, FLA. (March 16, 2011) – The C.W. Post Pioneers had two, tough competitive games at the Rebel Games today; however were unable to pull out a victory in either of the two contests as the Pioneers drop a game each to Minnesota Duluth, 1-3, and Wisconsin Parkside, 6-8.
Minnesota stuck first during the opening game against the Pioneers, as the team notched one run off starting Pioneer pitcher Sarah Kiser (Arnold, Md.) during the bottom half of the first inning. Michaela Goris came around to score the run for the Bulldogs after she had laid down bunt single and then stole second.
The Pioneers quickly got tied the game up during the top of second inning. Kendall Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) was driven in by Jessica Julich (Kings Park, N.Y.) with a single to leftfield.
The Bulldogs then took the lead for good during the bottom of the fifth inning with two runs to bring the game to 3-1. Minnesota used two RBI doubles each to push across the two decisive runs.
Kiser took the loss in the game, dropping to 2-1 on the season after she pitched five innings of work with three strikeouts while allowing three runs on six hits. Hayley Bettles (Surrey, British Columbia) pitched one inning of relief work, giving up one hit and striking out one.
Senior pitcher, Mandy Matula, allowed only five hits to the Pioneers, striking out that same number and only giving up one win to pick up the victory.
C.W. Post had to quickly turn around from the first game and move onto facing Wisconsin-Parkside, who was also coming off a loss in their first game.
The Pioneer quickly jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings, with Kaci Hopkins (New Egypt, N.J.), Kerry Fisher (Barto, Pa.), and Britney Agostini (Dover, Del.) accounting for the three runs in the first two innings.
Starting pitcher Christina Berardi (Raynham, Mass.) shut out the Rangers through the first three innings. However, during the fourth innings, Parkside was able to tack on five runs off of six hits. Three straight singles to start off the inning began the damage, with a ground out, a two RBI single, and a two RBI double accounting for the scoring hits.
With the score 5-3 in favor of the Rangers entering the bottom of the fifth, C.W. Post tied up the score after Fisher and Nicole Hagenah (Commack, N.Y.) each hit doubles down the line to drive in a run each, tying the score at five.
The score was then tied after seven innings, with both teams looking to find the clutch hit in extra innings. The Rangers struck first during the top of the ninth inning as Ashley Sullivan came across the plate to make the game 6-5. However, the Pioneers tied the score up again after Carly Chamberlain (Nesco, N.J.) drove a ball to center that popped out of the centerfielder's glove, allowing Agostini to score after she began the inning on second.
The Rangers took the lead for good during the very next inning though, after Lani Grogan hit a RBI single down the right field line and taking a 7-6 lead. Grogan then came around for an insurance run after a Diana Gordon sacrifice fly to tally the final run of the game and give the Rangers the 8-6 victory.
Jill Vondrak pitched all 10 inning for the Rangers, giving up 11 hits and six runs, with five being earned. Gordon, Sullivan, and Colleen Cummings each drove in two runs apiece to lead Parkside.
Berardi, Bettles, and Kiser all pitched during the game, totaling 10 innings in which the trio allowed 11 hits and gave up 8 runs, six earned and struckout five batters. Kiser took the loss in the game and now holds a 2-2 record. Fisher, Hopkins, and Agostini each scored two runs for the Pioneers.
C.W. Post now drops to 3-3 in Florida, with four games remaining on the trip. The Pioneers are back in action on Thursday, with games at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. against Wayne State in the first match-up, with Tiffin to follow.