Pat Longobardi, Sports Writer:
An offensive outburst and good pitching performances propelled visiting C.W. Post over the Southern softball team in both games of the double header in a non-conference match-up on April 14 at Pelz Field.
In game one, C.W. Post scored eight runs in the top of the sixth inning on their way to a 12-4 win. C.W. Post led 4-3 after two innings. Southern tied it, 4-4, in the fourth. C.W. Post chased Southern’s starter Jayme Larson out of the game, with a big inning led by freshman third baseman Nicole Hagenah’s grand slam to left field. The game only went six innings due to the mercy rules.
Senior Christina Berardi got the win, going six innings, giving up four runs, two earned, on seven hits, one walk and six strikeouts.
Larson got the loss, going 5.1 innings, giving up 10 runs, 10 earned, on 11 hits, and four strikeouts. Jessica Rosa pitched two-thirds of an innings, giving up two runs, two earned, on one hit, and two walks.
Hagenah led C.W. Post going 3-for-4 with a grand slam, four RBI, and scored three runs. Freshman Carly Chamberlain went 3-for-4 with two RBI, scoring one run. Sophomore Nicole Capella went 3-for-3 with one RBI, scoring two runs.
“We started off great in the first game. Then, we gave up the eight run inning, and you can’t do that,” said Southern head coach, Lisa Barbaro.
Alyssa Downs led Southern going 3-for-3 with one RBI, scoring two runs. Stacy Pouliot went 2-for-3 with one RBI, scoring one run.
In game two, senior Sarah Kiser had eleven strikeouts leading C.W. Post over Southern, 4-3.
C.W. Post led 1-0 in the top of the first on a Hagenah RBI single.
Southern scored two runs in the bottom of the second to lead 2-1. First baseman Kristin Whitley tied the game, 1-1, with an RBI single to left. Southern took the lead on a double steal when Whitley stole second, followed by Priest stealing home.
C.W. Post batted around in the sixth inning, scoring three runs on six hits. Junior second baseman Kendall Bright hit the blow with a two-run home run to left field to lead 3-2.
Krysta Palazzo provided insurance with an RBI single to center, making it 4-2.
Southern rallied in the bottom of the sixth, with two outs, cutting the lead, 4-3. After Whitley’s leadoff walk, Downs popped up to second and Rosa struck out looking. Pagano singled to left center. Whitley scored on Pouliot’s RBI single to right. Brittany Bucko then fouled out to first base to end the inning. Southern went in order to end the game.
“We get a great performance and challenged a good hitting team,” said Barbaro. We just didn’t hit for her (Brittany) today.”
Kiser got the win going seven innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on five hits, and two walks. Kiser had at least one strikeout in each inning, including striking out the side in the third.
Brittany Hill got the loss for Southern, going seven innings, giving up four runs, four earned, on ten hits, one walk and four strikeouts.
Bright led C.W. Post going 1-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, scoring one run. Junior Krysta Palazzo went 2-for-3 with one RBI. Hagenah went 2-for-4 with one RBI, scoring one run.
Whitley led Southern going 2-for-2 with one RBI, scoring one run. Thibault went 1-for-4, scoring one run. Pouliot went 1-for-3 with one RBI.
C.W. Post moved to 24-8 overall. Southern moved to 14-13 overall.
