Feb. 22, 2008
Final Stats
FORT MYERS, Fla. -
Escaping the wintry weather back in New York to open the spring season, the St. Bonaventure softball team finished its first day at the Florida Gulf Coast University Spring Break Invitational with a 1-1 mark following a pair of contests on Friday.
The Bonnies opened the day with a 6-1 victory over Western Carolina, before falling to Boston College 3-1 in the second game of their doubleheader.
Behind a solid pitching effort from reigning Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team selection Sherri Thompson and an offensive outburst down the stretch, the Brown and White started the season with a win for the second straight year.
The second-year ace allowed just three hits on the afternoon, while striking out four Catamount hitters before the Bona bats sealed the club's first win of the season with four runs in the fifth inning.
With the Bonnies leading 2-1 heading into the fifth frame, junior Ashley Kotz started the inning with a walk followed by back-to-back singles from senior Andrea Swanger and junior Kathryn Pazda.
Kotz sparked the scoring after an error in centerfield sent her to the plate to bring the Bonnies in front 3-1. In her St. Bonaventure debut, freshman Kara Morenus smacked a two RBI double to extend the lead to 5-1 followed by a RBI single from junior Brianna Bricker to stretch the lead to five runs at 6-1.
In the club's final game of the day, the Bonnies dropped a 3-1 decision to Big East affiliate Boston College.
Bricker started on the mound in game two and fanned five batters while giving up four hits in the nightcap. All three of the Eagles runs were unearned.
Following two scoreless innings of play, Boston College tallied a single run in the next three frames to take a 3-0 advantage into the sixth. The Brown and White finally lit up the scoreboard in the sixth when freshman Samantha Rajski's fielder's choice sent sophomore Stephanie Narde to the plate.
The Bonnies will return to action tomorrow afternoon for another doubleheader in sunny Florida. St. Bonaventure will take on South Dakota State at 1:00 p.m. before squaring off against the host Florida Gulf Coast at 5:00 p.m.
