March 10, 2008
WC Splits Pair to Open Florida Stay
Russell Goes 3-for-3 in Win Over Manhattanville

KISSIMMEE, FL -- The Washington College softball team split a pair of games this afternoon to open its stay at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, FL. In the opener, the Shorewomen (1-3) hung on for a 4-3 win over Manhattanville. In their second game, the Shorewomen fell to Oneonta State, 4-1.

The Shorewomen took a 1-0 lead against Manhattanville in the top of the second inning. With the bases loaded and two out, senior outfielder Irene Pastorino (Swarthmore, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) walked, driving in senior catcher Kim Proctor (Ferndale, MD/Institute of Notre Dame). The Valiants tied the score in the bottom of the third when Trina Ramsdell drove in Jenna Marvin with a single to right center. Washington moved back in front, 2-1, in the top of the fourth inning when freshman shortstop Jes Van Gosen (Virginia Beach, VA/Tallwood) executed a squeeze bunt to score senior second baseman Megan Russell (Federalsburg, MD/Seaford Christian, DE), who led off the inning with a single, from third base.

The Shorewomen tacked on another run in the fifth inning when Russell singled through the left side to drive in junior first baseman Meghan Luterzo (Hasbrouck Heights, NJ/St. Mary's) to make the score 3-1. The Shorewomen plated their fourth run of the game in the top of the sixth inning when Van Gosen scored on a wild pitch. The Valiants cut the lead to 4-2 when Nicole Bifulco drove in Ramsdell with a single up the middle in the bottom of the sixth inning. Manhattanville trimmed the margin to 4-3 when Lindsay Zekus scored off a Ramsdell two-out single to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Washington junior pitcher Emily Adams (Bethesda, MD/Bethesda-Chevy Chase) got Kathryn Moore to ground out with two runners on to end the threat and finish the win for Washington.

Russell reach based safely in all four plate appearances against Manhattanville, going 3-for-3 with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI. Russell accounted for all but one of Washington's hits in the game, but the Shorewomen totaled 10 walks as Luterzo and Pastorino each walked twice. Adams picked up the win. Just one of her three runs given up was earned and she allowed six hits and two walks while striking out five.

In the Shorewomen's second game of the day, Oneonta State plated all four of its runs in the top of the second inning. Aly Helstrom and Kristin Jung each hit an RBI single in the inning, while Meghan Dunham drove in two runs with her single. Washington got on the board in the bottom of the seventh when senior outfielder Meg Travers (Huntingtown, MD/Calvert) drove in Van Gosen with her second double of the game. Luterzo then singled to right center to move Travers over to third base, but Jung struck out Proctor to end the game.

Bethany Truax went 3-for-4 with a run scored for Oneonta. Jung picked up the win, allowing one run on seven hits and three walks. Van Gosen and Travers each went 2-for-3 for the Shorewomen in the loss. Senior pitcher Michelle Laque (Ocean Pines, MD/Stephen Decatur) pitched well in relief, allowing no runs on three hits and a walk while striking out four batters in five innings.

The Shorewomen will play Cortland State at 9:00 a.m. and Transylvania at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow at the Rebel Spring Games.

BOX SCORE v. Manhattanville

BOX SCORE v. Oneonta State