April 26, 2011
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
PHILADELPHIA- Seniors Laura Beth McCreesh and DJ Guinn combined to strike out 12 UMBC hitters in game two of Tuesday's twin bill at West Campus Field, but it wasn't enough to tame the Retrievers. The Explorers dropped both contests against UMBC by counts of 9-1 and 4-1.
Sophomore Liz Reed came into Tuesday's games with a streak in which she had reached base in 15 of her previous 16 outings. Reed continued her streak through both ballgames courtesy of being hit by a pitch in game one, before being walked in the second game.
The free pass in the first game gave La Salle its only run of the contest when junior Tristan Musho trotted home from third base.
After narrowing the gap to a 2-1 lead at that point, UMBC went on to tack on seven more runs between the fourth and sixth inning. The Retreivers belted four home runs in the game, including two roundtrippers by senior Julia Culotta.
In the 150th game of her La Salle career, senior Ali Shepherd went 1-for-3 out of the lead-off spot in the order. Shepherd's base knock came right away for the Explorers when she pounded one of Stephanie Weigman's pitches into left field.
Down 4-0 with two outs in the third inning of game two, Guinn came in to relieve McCreesh. In 4.1 innings of relief work, Guinn struck out eight batters and did not allow a run for the rest of the ballgame.
Freshman Emily Moran delivered La Salle's lone run in the fourth inning when she laced a single into left field to score Musho from second base.
UMBC continued to hurt the Explorers with the longball in the second game, as it belted two more. Junior Katie Ferguson had a home run in both contests for the Retrievers.
Sophomore pitcher Heather Brown was impressive from the circle for the Retrievers. In game two she threw a complete game in which she allowed one run, three hits and walked only one Explorer.
La Salle's defense and abiltiy to pitch itself out of jams in the second contest, caused UMBC to leave eight runners on base.
The Explorers (2-33, 0-12) conclude non-conference play and a six-game homestand tomorrow when it hosts the Bucknell Bison in another midweek doubleheader. First pitch is slated for a 3:30 p.m. start.
For a preview of tomorrow's games with the Bucknell Bison, continue reading.
La Salle Explorers (2-33, 0-12) vs. Bucknell Bison (12-32, 4-10)
Non-Conference Game
When: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 3:30 PM & 5:30 PM
Where: West Campus Field
Forecast: Isolated Thunderstorms, 74 degrees, Winds: (SSE), 17 MPH
Follow on GameTracker: Game 1 | Game 2
The Explorers conclude a six-game homestand and a stretch in which they had of nine of their last 11 games at West Campus Field today when they host the Bucknell Bison for a doubleheader.
Wednesday is the end of non-conference competition for the Explorers. After today, their remaining six games are against Atlantic 10 foes. La Salle heads to the New England region this weekend to take on Rhode Island and Massachusetts in conference action.
Last year when these two teams met, Bucknell took game one by a count of 3-2, before lightning
moved in during the fifth inning of the second game to force La Salle and Bucknell into a scoreless
tie.
In her last three appearances, senior DJ Guinn has combined for 15.2 innings in which she has compiled 19 strikeouts.
Sophomore Liz Reed had reached base in 17 of her last 18 games.
Alison Ford is hitting .408 this season with a Bucknell team-high 51 hitts, 25 rbis and four home
runs.
Bison pitchers Bridget Gates and Alex MacLean are tied with six wins this season. MacLean has
completed 15 games in 22 starts.
The next time La Salle plays at West Campus Field will be when it closes out the season. On May 7,
the Explorers will host the George Washington Colonials in a twin bill beginning at 1 PM. A special
senior day ceremony will prelude the contest to honor the five La Salle seniors.
