April 14, 2007
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
WASHINGTON, D.C. -
The St. Bonaventure softball team earned a split against George Washington on Saturday afternoon taking the opener 8-1 before falling 4-3 in game two at Mount Vernon Complex.
The Bonnies are now 9-11 on the season and 2-3 in the Atlantic 10. George Washington is 18-17 overall and 5-7 in conference play.
"It was important for us to come out and get a win today, but we need to learn how to win the one-run games," said head coach Mike Threehouse. "When we can start to get those we'll be able to reach the goals that we've set."
Senior Christine Keleher earned the decision on the mound in both games and in the process moved into first place in the Bona record books in complete games (65) and innings pitched (516.2). Keleher, who is now 6-4 on the season, already holds Bonaventure career records in wins (42), strikeouts (343) and shutouts (13). Keleher limited GW to three hits in the game one win.
Four players had three or more hits on the afternoon led by senior Caitlin Grattan's 4-for-7 day at the dish. Grattan belted two doubles, score three runs and had two RBI. Junior Brianna Bricker went 3-for-9 with a double, a home run and two runs scored. Junior Kirstin Strong finished with three hits and three RBI, while sophomore Ashley Kotz also had three hits.
In the opener, St. Bonaventure plated two runs in the second, two in the third and three in the fourth to take a commanding 7-0 lead. Junior Patricia McKeon brought home the first run of the game with an RBI single to score Grattan in the second.
Another GW error put the leadoff batter on in the third inning followed by Grattan's second double of the game, putting two runners in scoring position with no outs. Ashley Kotz made good on her RBI opportunity slapping a single into right field, scoring Anna Nagro to make it 3-0. Strong drove home Grattan with a sacrifice fly for the final run of the inning.
The Bonnies added to their lead in the fourth as sophomore Brianna Bricker started things with a double. Nagro reached base on George Washington's third error of the day as Bricker advanced to third on the play. Grattan then laced her third hit of the day, this time an RBI single to score Bricker from third. Strong then followed with a two-run single that was aided by a GW throwing error scoring both Nagro and Grattan to make it 7-0.
The Colonials lone run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth when Caroline Howe belted a home run.
St. Bonaventure tacked on one more in the seventh as freshman Stephanie Narde singled home pinch-runner Blair Freeman for the 8-1 final.
The Brown and White's 5-10 batters finished an impressive 10-for-16 at the plate in game one.
In game two, Bricker gave the Bonnies a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a solo home run.
George Washington took its first lead of the afternoon with four runs in the bottom of the third. The first two runs came on a double by Halkiotis followed by a two-run homer by X Howe.
The Bonnies went down in order if the fourth and fifth innings, but climbed to within 4-2 in the sixth thanks to an RBI single by Grattan.
After freshman hurler Sherri Thompson kept the Colonials off the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth, the Brown and White mounted one more comeback effort in the top of the seventh.
-MORE TO COME-
St. Bonaventure will make its third attempt for its home opener on Tuesday, April 17, when it welcomes Niagara University to McGraw-Jennings Field for a doubleheader. Game one is slated for a 3 p.m. start.
