March 21, 2010

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Gina Massaro led the Explorers with a 5-for-8 showing at the plate on the day and pitched a complete game shutout in game 1 as the softball team split its doubleheader with Monmouth on Sunday. The Explorers took the first game 1-0 and dropped the second game in a 12-10 slugfest. The split moves the Explorers to 5-7, while the Hawks are now 4-8.

An Angelina Bisbiglia RBI double in the bottom of the first inning was all the scoring that was needed in the first game. Ali Shepherd singled up the middle and scored on Bisbiglia's two-base shot down the left field line.

Neither team threatened in the rest of the game as Massaro scattered three Hawk hits and Monmouth pitcher Melissa Mehrer allowed only two more Explorer hits. Massaro also struck out two, and Mehrer fanned six.

The second game was completely opposite as the two squads combined for 22 runs on 30 hits in the 12-10 loss. Monmouth struck first for three runs in the top of the first, including a lead-off home run by Emily DeLong.

The Explorers answered back with two in bottom of the first. Massaro led off with a single down the left field line and advanced on a wild pitch by Hawk hurler Lauren Sulick. She crossed home plate for the first run on Shepherd's single up the middle. Mary Pat Conville followed up with another single, advancing Shepherd to third who then scored the second run on Bisbiglia's sacrifice fly to right field.

After a scoreless top of the second, the Explorers took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the frame. DJ Guinn singled to left center and Shannon Skomorucha followed up with a two-run blast over the left field fence to put the home squad on top.

The Hawks answered with a two-run third inning to put the score at 5-4 before Erica Vile singled in Conville in the bottom of the third to lock the game up at 5-5.

Monmouth went up 7-5 in the fourth on two hits and an Explorer miscue but the Blue and Gold plated three more in the bottom of the fourth to take an 8-7 lead. Breanna DiTommaso led off the fourth with a solo home run to left field. Massaro followed up with a single to left and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Shepherd. Massaro found third base on a passed ball. Conville then reached base on a fielder's choice as the Hawk defense tried to catch Massaro in a rundown, but Massaro dove safely back to third. Conville and Massaro then scored as Bisbiglia followed up with a two-RBI double to right center to put the score at 8-7.

After a scoreless fifth for both teams, the Hawks put up three runs in the top of the sixth and never relinquished the lead although the Explorers threatened in the bottom of the seventh with bases loaded.

Laura Beth McCreesh suffered the loss in the pitcher's circle. She came on in relief of DJ Guinn in the third inning and went 3.1 innings. She gave up seven runs on eight hits and struck out three. Mehrer, who pitched three innings in relief, picked up the win for the Hawks. She gave up two runs on four hits and struck out six.

The Explorers return to action on Tuesday (3/23) when they host Villanova for a 3:00 PM doubleheader.