CHAMBERSBURG, Pa--The Hood College softball team engaged in a
pair of extra inning affairs with the Wilson College Phoenix,
dropping the first game 2-1 in nine innings before rallying to earn
a 4-3 triumph in eight frames in the nightcap.
Hood improves to 5-9 overall, 3-1 in the AWCC, while the Phoenix
even their record at 5-5 and 1-1 in the conference.
Hood's Jamie Gardner and Wilson's Cheryl Taylor pitched brilliantly
in the first game as neither pitcher surrendered a run over the
first seven innings. Wilson blew a prime scoring chance in the
bottom of the fourth when the Phoenix loaded the bases with nobody
out. But Gardner, the reigning AWCC Player of the Week, struck out
Marney Niland and got Amanda Harrity and Taylor to fly out to
escape unscathed.
The Blazers scored the first run of the ballgame in the top of the
eighth when Sara Wastler delivered an RBI-single which scored Jess
Krietz. But the Phoenix scored a run of their own in the bottom of
the frame on Amber Shelly's RBI-single. Wilson stranded the
potential game-winning run at third base after Sarah Engelsman
struck out and Niland and Harrity popped up and the two teams went
to the ninth.
After Hood was unable to plate a run in the top of the inning, the
Phoenix scored the game-winning run after a Blazer miscue.
In the second game, it was the Blazers who prevailed in extra
innings as Jamie Bussey knocked in Tamara Maggard in the top of the
eighth. Gardner picked up her fifth victory of the season as she
struck out Englesman and retired Shelly and Niland on ground
outs.
Christine Harvey was 2-for-4 in the game with two RBI while Gardner
helped her own cause with a pair of basehits in the victory.
The Blazers return to action Friday hosting Messiah College for a
doubleheader at 2 p.m. at the Hood College Softball Complex.