April 18, 2009
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle offense pounded out 10 hits including Mary Pat Conville's three-run home run in the first inning, but fell to visiting Dayton 8-6 on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams combined for six runs in a 35-minute first inning. The Flyers put up two runs on two hits, two walks and a sacrifice fly to open the game's scoring.
The Explorers responded by doubling that score in the bottom of the inning. They scored four runs on just one out. Gina Massaro blasted a one-out double to left center and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Conville ripped the ball over the fence in left center to tie the score at two apiece, a rip that saw the ball still rising as it passed over the fence.
Angelina Bisbiglia drew a walk and advanced to second on an Erica Vile single that passed just out of reach of third baseman Brandy Brown. DJ Guinn then loaded the bases with a single to left. Shannon Skomorucha carried the momentum with a single to left to score Bisbiglia and put the Explorers on top. The fourth run scored when Laura Gallagher drew a bases loaded walk to score Vile. The inning ended on a force out at the plate and a pop foul ball.
The teams held each other scoreless over the next four innings before the Flyers broke through in the sixth to go up 5-4. The first run of the inning scored on an Explorer fielding miscue and two more scored on a Molly Meyer double.
The Explorers responded with a two-run inning of their own to go back on top 6-5. The bases loaded right off the bat with two straight singles from Ali Shepherd and Alicia Dela Rosa followed by one of Massaro's bunt singles. Conville hit an infield grounder that was thrown home, but Dela Rosa beat the throw for the score. Guinn was hit by a pitch with bases loaded to score the second run of the inning.
The seventh inning started with an out right away as Massaro got Anne Maci to ground out to Conville, but Lauren Nacke and Emily Stegeman responded with consecutive singles. With two on, Brown homered to right field to score three runs to put the score at 8-6.
Shepherd singled through the right side with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to attempt to start a rally but Massaro's hard line drive was snagged by the Flyers' Katie Jordan for the third out.
Massaro suffered the loss in the pitcher's circle for the Explorers. She pitched 6.1 innings and gave up eight runs on seven hits. She struck out five and walked five. Guinn pitched 0.2 inning in relief while walking one and striking out one. Three Flyer pitchers saw action with Eva Rappe earning the win and Sarah Wedel picking up the save. Wedel started the game and pitched two complete innings and then finished the game with one full inning. She gave up four runs on six hits, walked four and struck out one. Allie Falk pitched three innings and gave up two runs on three hits, walked none with no strikeouts. Rappe pitched one full inning and limited Explorer bats to one hit with one strikeout.
The Explorers return to action on Tuesday (4/21) for their final home games of the season when they host Delaware State in a doubleheader starting at 3:00 PM.
