COUGAR SOFTBALL LOSES TWICE TO START SEASON
3-18-06
SXU 2, CC 0
Wayne St. 6, CC 5
KISSIMMEE,
Fla. – The Caldwell College softball team, ranked 16th nationally, dropped a
pair of close games at the Rebel Spring Games in the Cougars’ first action
of the 2006 season. Caldwell opened with a 2-0 loss to St. Xavier
University, then fell 6-5 to Wayne State. Both games were played at the
Osceola County Complex.
In the day’s first game, St. Xavier scored a pair of unearned runs in the
first inning and then used outstanding defense to make the lead stand.
Caldwell managed just four hits while advancing a runner past first base
only once. Junior Jackie Velardi (Belleville, NJ/Belleville),
pictured, went 2 for 3, while senior Kim Birmingham (Pine Hill,
NJ/Overbrook) and junior Anna Dahl (Lindenwold, NJ/Camden Catholic)
each had a hit. Sophomore pitcher Kristen de la Campa (Whitman,
MA/Whitman Hanson), who was 8-0 as a freshman last season, lost for the
first time as a collegian, allowing four hits and two unearned runs in 4.0
innings pitched. St. Xavier’s Nicolle Bartels went the distance to earn the
shutout.
Against Wayne State, the Cougars again fell behind after allowing an
unearned run in the top of the second inning. Caldwell came back to tie the
game in the bottom of the fourth, when Birmingham singled home sophomore
Nicole Bodrog (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape). But Wayne State answered with
thee runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. Velardi cut the
deficit to 4-2 in the bottom half of the fifth with a single to left that
plated senior Amy Coker (Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville). Again Wayne
State regained the three-run lead when Sue Verbeem homered over the left
field fence in the top of the sixth.
Caldwell came back in the bottom of the sixth inning with two runs to cut
Wayne State’s lead to one, 5-4. With the bases loaded and two out, Coker
singled, scoring pinch-runner Danielle Payne (Jamesburg, NJ/Monroe
Twp.) and senior Gina D’Amico (Turnersville, NJ/Washington Twp.). For
the third time, Wayne State answered Caldwell’s runs with a run in the next
inning, when Becky Quinn drew a bases-loaded walk. Senior Katie Jackson
(Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville) gave the Cougars hope with a lead-off home run
in the bottom of the seventh, but the next three batters were retired,
ending the game.
The Cougars continue play at the Rebel Spring Games on Sunday, Mar. 19, with
games against No. 9 Lock Haven University at 10:40 a.m. and Northwest
Missouri State at 2:20 p.m.
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