March 12, 2009
Shorewomen Finish Trip with Two Wins
Washington Downs Regis & Pitt-Greensburg

MYRTLE BEACH, SC -- The Washington College softball team finished play at the Snowbird Tournament in Myrtle Beach, SC, today with a pair of victories. In their first game of the day, the Shorewomen (5-4) rallied for a 6-4 win over Regis College. In their final game of the tournament, the Shorewomen scored six runs in the third inning to defeat Pitt-Greensburg, 7-4.

A two-run home run by Hope Benjamin in the first inning gave Regis an early 2-0 lead in the Shorewomen's first game. Franli Bencosme hit a two-run single in the top of the second to increase the lead to 4-0. Washington got on the board in the bottom of the second, plating three runs. The first two scored on a two-error play and the third on a single by sophomore shortstop Jes Van Gosen (Virginia Beach, VA/Tallwood). The Shorewomen loaded the bases in the third and fourth innings, but came up empty in both frames. Washington ultimately rallied in the bottom of the sixth as freshman center fielder Leigh Carbutt (Collegeville, PA/Perkiomen Valley) hit an RBI single, freshman designated player Erin Ficca (Exton, PA/Bishop Shanahan) drove in a run on a successful squeeze play, and freshman first baseman Tori Ripple (Baltimore, MD/John Carroll) drove in a run with an infield single to give Washington a 6-4 lead.

Carbutt went 3-for-3 with a walk, a double, an RBI, and a run scored for the Shorewomen in the win for her seventh straight multiple-hit game. Ripple was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, while freshman second baseman Margaret Rhode (Highland Lakes, NJ/Academy of Home Education) was 2-for-2 with two doubles and a run scored. Freshman pitcher Meaghan Kimme (Lumberton, NJ/Holy Cross) picked up the win, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six batters.

Bencosme and Benjamin each had two hits, two RBI, and two runs scored in the loss for Regis.

Against Pitt-Greensburg, Washington took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Carbutt led off with a single and later scored on a sacrifice bunt by freshman third baseman Sally Snover (Charlotte, NC/Myers Park). The Bobcats tied the score in the top of the second when Lindsay Littler hit an RBI single.

The Shorewomen plated six runs with two outs in the bottom of the third to break the game open. Ripple and sophomore designated player Becca Nicely (Baltimore, MD/Institute of Notre Dame) hit back-to-back RBI singles to start the scoring. Ripple later scored on an error. Van Gosen singled with the bases loaded and a subsequent error on the play wound up clearing the bases, placing Van Gosen on third, and giving the Shorewomen a 7-1 lead. Pitt-Greensburg scored three runs in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Rikki Martin and a two-run home run by Nicole Linsenbigler, but could get no closer.

Senior pitcher Emily Adams (Bethesda, MD/Bethesda-Chevy Chase) went 3-for-3 at the plate and allowed just one unearned run on three hits and no walks while striking out six in six innings to get the win for Washington against the Bobcats. Ficca pitched the seventh inning for the Shorewomen. Carbutt's multiple-hit streak came to an end, but she did extend her hitting streak to eight games.

Linsenbigler finished 2-for-4 with the home run, two RBI, and a run scored for the Bobcats, while Littler was 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.

The Shorewomen return to action Wednesday with a 3:00 p.m. double-header at Immaculata.

BOX SCORE v. Regis

BOX SCORE v. Pitt-Greensburg