FORT MYERS, FL - The Saint Joseph's College Softball team kicked off the 2010 campaign with a pair of wins over Ohio-Wesleyan and perennial powerhouse Wartburg College on Monday. Liddy van der Linden '10 (Worcester, MA) recorded four hits, including a two-run homer against Wartburg, and knocked home seven runs in the two contests.
SJC pitchers Kiera Walsh '11 (Benton, ME) and Christy Wezowicz '10 (Granville, MA) tossed gems for the Monks and collected the team's first victories of the year in the circle. Walsh allowed four hits and three runs with four strikeouts against Ohio-Wesleyan and Wezowicz scattered seven hits with three strikeouts and just one earned run allowed against Wartburg.
Emily Leverone '12 (Hampton, NH) also enjoyed a fine day with the bat, as the 2009 All-GNAC First Team honoree was 4-6 with three RBI and two doubles on the day.
The Monks utilized the typically-successful blend of clutch hitting, great pitching and outstanding defense on the first day en route to the 2-0 start. After two games, the lineup produced a .350 (21-60) batting average, the pitching duo combined for a 2.00 ERA with just one walk in 14 innings and a .204 (11-54) opponent batting average, and the defense committed one error in 63 chances for a .984 fielding percentage.
GAME ONE (Ohio Wesleyan)
The Battling Bishops struck first with two runs off a pair of hits in their first turn of the game against Walsh. Rita Cook registered a two-out, two-RBI single to account for the Ohio Wesleyan runs.
After a scoreless second frame, St. Joe’s produced a five-run third to capture the lead. Right fielder Danyelle Shufelt ’13 (Sutton, VT) notched her first collegiate hit, an RBI single that plated catcher Ellen Neff ’11 (Chester, VT), to start the scoring. Battling Bishop starter Lauren McIntire was lifted in favor of Rachel Seibel after loading the bases. Seibel proceeded to issue three consecutive walks to Leverone, van der Linden and Alyssa Dunn ’11 (Standish, ME) before fanning second baseman Jillian Kimball ’10 (Albany Township, ME). Leverone stole home to cap the five-run third inning.
The Monks put up another five-spot in the fourth to gain total control of the contest and added three more in the seventh to make the final score 12-3, St. Joe’s.
Neff was 3-4 with a run scored, Shufelt went 2-4 with 2 runs and an RBI in her first NCAA softball contest and Maria Labbe ’12 (Lewiston, ME) recorded a pinch-hit, two-run single and scored a run.
GAME TWO (Wartburg)
van der Linden’s home run, a two-run blast that scored Leverone, sparked the Monks in the first inning of the Wartburg game. Both SJC hits in the inning, as Leverone reached with a single, came with two outs.
The Knights responded in the third by tying the game, as Lynn Heitkamp registered a run-scoring triple and scrambled home herself on an error by SJC third baseman Samantha Gray ’12 (Yarmouth, ME).
The Monks plated a pair in the bottom of the third to close the game scoring, as Wezowicz and reliever Jacie Smith dueled over the final four scoreless frames. Willis led off the third with a single, was moved over to second on a Shufelt sac bunt and scored on a Leverone two-bagger. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Leverone scored the game’s final run when van der Linden sent her scrambling home with a fielder’s choice.
Saint Joseph's will play two games on Tuesday, as the Monks take on Drew University at 9:00 AM and New Jersey City University at 11:00 AM.
