No. 24 Softball Sweeps Bridgeport, 11-0, 10-0; Apicella Wins 500th At C.W. Post
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (April 30, 2011) – The No. 24 C.W. Post softball team swept an East Coast Conference doubleheader against the University of Bridgeport, 11-0 and 10-0, which earned head coach Jamie Apicella his 500th career win with the Pioneers.
C.W. Post improves to 34-12 overall and 20-8 in ECC action. Bridgeport slips to 7-32 overall and 2-23 in conference play.
The Pioneers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game one before piling on eight runs in the sixth inning to take the win. The first two runs came across in the first courtesy of a two-run single to centerfield off the bat of freshman third baseman Nicole Hagenah (Commack, N.Y.).
C.W. Post erupted in the sixth, scoring eight runs on six hits and three errors, beginning with a fielder's choice credited to sophomore Nicole Fierro (East Hampton, N.Y.) that allowed junior right fielder Krysta Palazzo (Sea Cliff, N.Y.) to score. The second run came in on a base hit to left field from sophomore first baseman Kaci Hopkins (New Egypt, N.J.) that brought freshman right fielder Jessica Julich (Kings Park, N.Y.) home. Junior centerfielder Kerry Fisher (Barto, Pa.) tallied the third run of the inning while Hagenah and junior second baseman Kendall Bright (Manlius, N.Y.) followed up with back-to-back singles to add two more runs and push the Pioneers' lead to 6-0.
Hagenah advanced to third on a wild pitch and crossed the plate on the same play after the catcher mishandled the ball while Bright scored on an infield error. Junior catcher Kristen Morcone (Milford, Mass.) doubled to left field to drive in freshman designated player Angela Carmine (Westbury, N.Y.) and came around to score the eighth run of the inning on another infield error.
Hagenah, who is currently batting .479 this season, led the Pioneers at the plate, batting 4-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored while Hopkins was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Senior pitcher Christina Berardi (Raynham, Mass.) tossed a one-hit shutout while striking out seven batters for her 19th win of the season.
Tiffany Irrera took the loss after surrendering six earned runs on 13 hits with three strikeouts.
In the nightcap, the Pioneers took a 3-0 lead in the second, beginning when Palazzo doubled to left center to score Fierro. Freshman leftfielder Carly Chamberlain (Nesco, N.J.) recorded an RBI with a ground out to second base. The third run was scored when Palazzo scored from third on a wild pitch.
C.W. Post added two more runs in third with a one-out triple from Bright and a ground out RBI to third from Fierro.
The Pioneers were still not content with their 5-0 lead and opened up a can in the fourth, scoring five runs on five hits and two errors and were led by Hagenah, who had a two-RBI single followed by Bright with a two-run triple – her second triple of the game. Junior Kim Kessel (Glen Cove, N.Y.) came in to pinch hit and drove in the fifth run with a single to centerfield.
C.W. Post plated its final run of the game in the fifth when freshman Britney Agostini (Dover, Del.) came to the plate with two outs and rocketed a solo shot to left field for her third home run of the season.
Bright led the Pioneer hitters in the game, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Hagenah was 1-for-1 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Senior pitcher Sarah Kiser (Arnold, Md.) earned her 15th win of the season, scattering six hits over five innings with seven strikeouts.
Katie Caudullo was charged with the loss after giving up 10 earned runs on 10 hits.
C.W. Post is back in action on Sunday, May 1 when it hosts a non-conference doubleheader against Caldwell College at 10:30 a.m.