FORT MYERS, FL - In the day's opening game, the Saint Joseph's softball team (2-2) held a 4-3 lead after 6 1/2 innings over Carroll University, but the Pioneers tied the game in the bottom of the 7th and won the game with a run in the eighth on a fielder's choice. The Lady Monks bounced back in the nightcap to defeat Rockford College, 6-0, as starter Kiera Walsh '11 (Benton, ME) allowed three hits, no walks and fanned four to post her first shutout of the season. Outfielders Anna Willis '10 (Gorham, ME) and Liz Jordan '09 (Sandwich, MA) both went 4-7 at the plate for the day.

GAME ONE

St. Joe's took a 1-0 lead in the second inning against Carroll University after a sacrifice fly off the bat of Samantha Gray '12 (Yarmouth, ME) plated Liddy van der Linden '10 (Worcester, ME), who led off the second inning with a double.

The Pioneers answered by scoring three runs on three hits off SJC starter Christy Wezowicz '10 (Granville, MA) in the bottom of the second. Maggie Shaffer '12 (Appleton, WI) and Trista Corrigan '09 (Milwaukee, WI) both recorded RBI singles for Carroll in the inning.

The Lady Monks posted three hits in the third inning, with singles from Willis, Jordan and Jillian Kimball '10 (Albany Township, ME), but starter Lorin Kelly '10 (Janesville, WI) escaped without a scratch by inducing a pop out to center and two groundouts.

Katelyn Call's '12 (Portland, ME/McAuley) first college hit, a single, sent home the second run of the contest for the Lady Monks, as pinch runner Brittany Worcester '12 (Cushing, ME) scored on the play to cut the deficit to 3-2.

St. Joe's, with the help of a little small ball, knotted the game at three apiece in the fifth. Jordan led off the frame with a base knock, Kimball moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt and van der Linden singled to record an RBI and tie the game.

The pesky Lady Monks scored in the sixth to gain their first lead of the game, using small ball to their advantage once again. Gray walked to open the inning and was replaced at first by pinch runner Caitlin Schrum '12 (Littleton, NH). SJC catcher Natasha Howard '11 (Farmington, ME) bunted her to second and Schrum later scored on a two-out single off the bat of Willis.

Wezowicz ran into a spot of trouble in the seventh before being lifted in favor of Madylan Kluna '12 (Standish, ME). Holly Poeschl '11 (Oshkosh, WI) began the inning with a single and moved to second on a bunt by Bird Dostalek '11 (West Allis, WI) before the swap of pitchers occurred. Kluna got Ashley Coppersmith '10 (Wauwatosa, WI)to pop out to first for the second out before Tessa Boushley '12 (Hortonville, WI) singled, sending home the tying run. Annelise Hanson '12 (Hebron, IL) grounded out to end the inning, as the game was headed for extra frames.

Gray successfully bunted Emily Leverone '12 (Hampton, NH), placed on second to start the eighth, to third, but Kelsey Deakins '09 (Kansasville, WI), who relieved Kelly after six innings, whiffed pinch hitter Ashley Geel '12 (St. George, ME) and Call to escape the threat.

Mandy Mlodzik '11 (Ripon, WI) started the eighth inning on second for the Pioneers, was moved to third on a sac bunt by Kaitlyn Vollmer '12 (Johnsburg, IL) and a grounder from Shaffer sent her home to clinch the victory.

Willis, Jordan and van der Linden all notched two hits for St. Joe's and Kluna took the loss in relief to fall to 0-2 on the year.

Shaffer, Corrigan, Jackie Messler '09 (New Berlin, WI), Poeschl and Boushley recorded two hits each and Deakins earned the win in the circle with two innings of relief.

GAME TWO

The Lady Monks posted 11 hits against Rockford College in the second game en route to a 6-0 triumph. Only four Regents runners reached base and just two advanced to second base.

St. Joe's posted a two-run second inning, as van der Linden and Alyssa Dunn '11 (Standish, ME) singles plated Willis and Jordan. The damage could have been worse, as Aletha Cunningham '10 (Bryon, IL) managed to get SJC catcher Ellen Neff '11 (Chester, VT) to ground out to third with the bases loaded for the final out of the frame.

The Lady Monks tacked on a run in the second, as Willis crossed the plate on a Kimball fielder's choice, and closed out the game scoring in the fifth with three runs. Gray sent home a pair of runs with a bases-loaded single and Schrum scored on a groundout by Willis for Saint Joseph's.

For St. Joe's, Willis, Jordan, Dunn and Leverone had two hits apiece and Gray had two RBI's in the win. Walsh improved to 2-0 on the season in the 90 minute contest.

For Rockford, Kristi Durlak '11 (Lake Villa, IL) recorded two of her team's three hits and Cunningham struck out four in the losing bid.

Wednesday is an off day for the Lady Monks, who will take on Wooster and RPI on Thursday. The first game is slated for a 1:00 PM start with the second contest to follow at 3:00 PM.