March 20, 2010
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - Junior Ali Shepherd connected for a walk-off double to lift the Explorers to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Central Connecticut State in the first of two games during Saturday's home opener. The Explorers rallied in the second game, but came up just short, dropping the contest 6-5. The Explorers move to 4-6 on the season, while the Blue Devils are now 5-8.
Freshman Liz Reed also registered her first collegiate hit on Saturday, a two-run home run in the second game to rally the squad from three runs down.
The first game proved a pitcher's duel between Explorer hurler DJ Guinn and her Blue Devil counterpart, Liz Montemurro. Neither team could get any offensive momentum going as both squads scattered hits throughout. After two quick outs in the top of the sixth, CCSU's Kat Knowles broke the deadlock with a solo shot over the center field fence.
The Explorers got to Montemurro in the bottom of the seventh, tabbing her for three walks (Guinn, Breanna DiTommaso and Gina Massaro) to set up Shepherd's game-winning shot. Shepherd capitalized, doubling down the right field line to score the two needed runs to capture the win.
Shepherd went 2-for-3 on the day, adding a single in the sixth inning. Also registering hits were Massaro, Heather Brabazon, Guinn and DiTommaso.
Guinn put together a strong complete game effort, scattering six hits while striking out eight batters and walking none. Montemurro also went the distance for the Blue Devils, scattering four hits, fanning eight but walking three.
The second game started off with a bang as the Explorers took a 2-1 lead after the first inning. CCSU's Becca Mussati smacked a lead-off double in the first and scored on a Jacki Logan double two batters later for the Blue Devils' score.
The Explorers answered right back in the bottom of the inning. Shepherd reached base on a single to right center, although was out on the next play as Mary Pat Conville hit into a fielder's choice. With Conville now on base, Angelina Bisbiglia connected for her third long ball of the season to drive in two runs.
The home squad went up 3-1 in the bottom of the second on two hits and a Blue Devil miscue. Brabazon led off the inning with a single down the right field line and Tristan Musho followed up by getting on base on an error by Blue Devil third baseman Macy Stefanski. DiTommaso then blasted a shot through the middle to score Brabazon.
A scoreless third inning gave way to a three-run fourth for the Blue Devils as they took a 4-3 lead. Stefanski scored after tagging up on a Kendall Sours fly-out to center. Two more scored on a Mussati single to center.
The Blue Devils went up by three by tacking on two more runs in the fifth. Logan homered to right center to lead off the inning and another run scored later on a passed ball.
The Explorers stormed back in the sixth inning to get within one. Musho singled to shortstop to lead off the inning and two batters later, Reed ripped a shot over the right field fence to bring the score within 6-5. The Blue Devils were able to work out of the inning though, catching Massaro stealing after she reached on a hit-by-pitch to end the Explorer threat.
Kristen Paoletti is the pitcher of record for the Explorers in the second game. Laura Beth McCreesh started and went 3.1 innings, giving up three runs, striking out one and walking one. Paoletti came on in relief, going two-thirds of an inning before Guinn closed out the contest with three innings pitched. Guinn struck out two in her relief effort.
The Explorers return to the diamond tomorrow (3/21) when they host another Northeast Conference foe, Monmouth, at 12:00 PM.
