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Box Score (New/Sortable Format) 2 Game One Box Score (HTML) | Game Two Box Score (HTML)
EDINBORO, Pa. (April 17, 2013) – After weeks of trying, the Edinboro softball team was finally able to play its first games of the season on home turf Wednesday afternoon, splitting a PSAC West doubleheader with rival Mercyhurst. The Fighting Scots came up on the short end of a 2-1 pitcher's duel in game one before earning their revenge with an 8-3 victory in the nightcap.
Edinboro stands 6-15 overall on the season, but most importantly remained even in conference play at 3-3. Mercyhurst moved to 16-22 overall and 3-7 in the PSAC West.
Amanda Shields began a strong day's work in the pitcher's circle by putting together a fine effort in game one. The Lakers pushed across an unearned run in their half of the second for the first scoring, but the Fighting Scots would equal the score in the bottom half of the frame when
Kari Falk hit a comebacker off pitcher Megan Hopton for an RBI single.
The Lakers scored what would turn out to be the winning run in the fourth. With two outs and runners at first and second, Kristen Fyffe broke the tie with an RBI base hit to right center for the one-run advantage.
Shields held the Lakers to just two runs, but could not receive the offensive support she needed to get off the hook for the loss. Edinboro had a golden opportunity in the sixth, putting the tying run at third following a one-out triple from
Brooke Owen, the first three-bagger of the freshman's Boro career.
Brenna Cosgrove reached on an infield hit to put runners at the corners, but Hopton settled down for a strikeout and ground out to end the threat.
The Boro again put the tying run in scoring position in the seventh when pinch hitter
Sarah Gustafson walked and moved to second on a sacrifice from Falk. Hopton picked up a ground out and a fly ball to center to complete the win for the visitors.
Shields (4-9) pitched much better than her fate, scattering seven hits over seven innings while allowing just one earned run. The senior walked one and struck out three.
Hopton (10-10) was outstanding as well, earning the complete game victory while handing out six hits and one walk with four strikeouts.
The Boro bats came alive in the nightcap. Edinboro seized a 1-0 advantage in the opening frame on a sac fly from
Ashley Black, scoring
Marissa Pullo who had tripled to the fence in right to lead off.
Edinboro blew the game open with a four-spot in the third. The Fighting Scots sent eight batters to the plate in the inning, first adding to their lead on an RBI base hit through the left side by Falk. A run-scoring ground out by
Kylie Mason plated another run, but the most damage was yet to come.
Alex Baer ripped a two-out double to deep right center to score Falk and
Stephanie Cassidy to cap the offensive fireworks.
The Lakers threatened in the fourth. Wildness brought trouble for Falk in the circle after limiting the visitors to just one infield single to that point. Shields was called upon in relief and immediately put out the fire. With a run home and the bases loaded with one out, Shields coaxed a fly ball off the bat of Taylor Jezuit that nearly dropped near the chalk in short left field. Mason tracked the ball down from short and threw out the runner advancing from third base for a double play to end the inning and Mercyhurst's best opportunity to get back in the game.
Black immediately gave Edinboro the momentum back with a two-RBI single in the bottom of the inning.
After Jezuit drove in a run for the Lakers in the sixth, Edinboro added a bit of insurance. Following a single from Tsuwli Wreh-Wilson and a walk to
Katie Holmes,
Shelby Rog belted her first hit to right field for another run and an 8-2 lead.
Mercyhurst tacked on a run in the seventh, but it was not enough to threaten.
Falk (1-1) earned her first win of the season with 3.1 innings of work, allowing one run on one hit. Shields picked up the save with 3.2 innings of relief, surrendering two runs with a walk and a strikeout.
Cosgrove led the way offensively with three hits after posting two in the first game for a 5-for-6 day in all at the plate. Edinboro cranked out 14 hits in all with each of the starting nine delivering at least one hit.
With three RBIs in game two, Black now has 68 for her career, fifth-most in school history. Pullo finished with two hits on the day to move to 132 and a tie for eighth all-time.
Edinboro returns to action Thursday with a home doubleheader vs. nationally-ranked California (Pa.) beginning at 2:30 p.m.
