April 8, 2008
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA, PA- Senior catcher Michelle Sullivan (Gibbstown, NJ/ Paulsboro) singled in the winning run in the bottom of the eight inning as the Explorers (12-18 A-10) took the first game 2-1 in eight innings from the Towson Tigers (22-18, 5-3 CAA) and the second 2-1 with a winning single from junior Kelli Curcio (Hatboro, PA/ St. Basil).
In the first game Towson scored in the third on a La Salle throwing error, but the Explorers evened it up just one inning later. Junior Danielle Signorelli (Jenkintown, PA/ St. Basil) doubled to get in scoring position and sophomore Angelina Bisbiglia (Sewell, NJ/ Camden Catholic) smoked a single past the Towson third baseman to even the score 1-1.
The Explorers got out of a jam in the fourth as freshman Ali Shepherd (Philadelphia, PA/ Creative & Performing Arts) turned a double play with a Towson runner on to send La Salle up to bat.
With a Towson runner on third with two outs in the top of the fifth, La Salle ace Laura Beth McCreesh (Philadelphia, PA/ St. Basil) sat the batter down to survive intact.
Late in the sixth Bisbiglia walked and pinch runner Laura Gallagher (Drexel Hill, PA/ Sacred Heart Day School) advanced to third on a stolen base and subsequent fielder's choice, but McCreesh popped up to center field to end the inning.
The Explorers retired the Towson side with three straight infield grounders but could not do any damage on offense as the game went into extra innings.
A walk and fielder's choice put Signorelli on second in the bottom of the eighth with one out, and Bisbiglia singled down the middle to move her to third. With the game on the line, Sullivan singled in the winning run to take a 2-1 win for La Salle.
McCreesh goes to 7-3 overall with the victory.
In the nightcap, Curcio singled in the winning run after Shepherd doubled to tie it at 2-2 in the seventh to take a dramatic 3-2 win from Towson.
Towson got onboard with a leadoff homer by Aimee Rosa in the second to take a 1-0 lead. Signorelli made the catch with one Towson runner on base to get out of that inning unharmed.
Sophomore Mary Pat Conville (Jamison, PA/ Archbishop Wood) beat out the throw to reach first in the fourth, but Bisbiglia popped out to end the inning.
Signorelli again came up clutch on defense, snagging a hard line drive to left field for the first out of the seventh. Towson's Mindy Bean hit her second triple of the day with two outs, and scored on a single to take a 2-0 lead.
Signorelli led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, followed by a Conville single. Signorelli advanced to third on a pop up by Bisbiglia. A fielder's choice by Sullivan advanced Conville to second, and McCreesh was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Shepherd slammed a double to center field to score two and tie it 2-2 and Curcio knocked in the winning run.
Pitcher Kristen Paoletti (Aldan, PA/ Archbishop Prendergast) goes to 2-2 with the win.
