April 5, 2009

Box Score

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Early inning offense helped lead Dayton to a doubleheader sweep of the Bonnies Sunday afternoon at McGraw-Jennings Field for the team's home opener. The Flyers hit four home runs on the afternoon including two by Lauren Nacke.

In the top of the first inning in game one, Dayton loaded the bases thanks to a double, a hit batter and an error. Nacke then lined a home run to left center to push the score to 4-0 before an out was recorded. Courtney Kutsulis followed up one batter later with a solo shot to cap off the inning.

After the Bonnies were set down in order in the bottom of the first, the Flyers put two batters on before Brandy Brown hit a three-run home run to right center to extend the team's lead. Bonas chipped away at the lead in the bottom half of the frame, with junior Stephanie Narde doubling to center to drive in Amanda Kotz and put the team on the board.

The score remained 8-1 thanks to a solid effort from Dayton starting pitcher Eva Rappe, who struck out six and allowed just three hits on the day. Her teammates provided extra offense in the top of the sixth thanks to a two-run double by Anne Maci.

Bonaventure starter Sherri Thompson struck out seven in her six innings but allowed 10 hits and eight earned runs to fall to 3-9 on the season with the 10-1 loss.

In the second game, Dayton again set the tone early with three runs off of Bona starter Erin Nargi. After a hit batter, two wild pitches and a walk, Nacke again stepped to the plate and delivered with a three-run home run.

Nargi recovered well, however, striking out the side in the second and dealt 11 strikeouts overall on the day.

The Bonnies offense again struggled, but managed to plate a run in the second thanks to a triple to center field by Shelly Seeger to plate Narde and make it 3-1 Dayton. The Bonnies outhit the Flyers for the game but struggled to score against Rappe and reliever Allie Falk, stranding 11 runners in the second game.

Megan Lee stroked a RBI double in the fourth inning and Maci knocked in Dayton's final run in the top of the seventh to make it a 5-1 final.

Nargi's record moves to 1-8 with the loss while Rappe picked up her third and fourth wins of the season in the doubleheader sweep.

Bonaventure now sits at 4-18 overall on the season and falls to 2-6 in conference play. The team has a quick turnaround as it faces Cornell Tuesday for a doubleheader before returning to Atlantic 10 play against Fordham at home Thursday and La Salle on Saturday.