OWINGS MILLS, Md.--The Hood College softball team (13-13, 8-4
CAC) bested the Stevenson University Mustangs (14-12, 5-7 CAC) by
scores of 6-5 in nine innings and 8-0 in five innings in a Capital
Athletic Conference twinbill Friday afternoon.
With the sweep, the Blazers clinched the No. 3 seed in the CAC
tournament and will host the University of Mary Washington Tuesday
at 4 p.m. in the first round of the double-elimination
tournament.
In the opener, Erin McNally delivered what proved to be the
game-winning base hit in the top of the ninth inning to propel the
Blazers to victory. Using the international tiebreaking rule,
Kandie Glenn took second to start the inning and was sacrificed to
third on a bunt by Casey Dunn. Then McNally stepped in and laced a
double down the left field line to plate Glenn for the go-ahead
run. During Jordan Wolford's at-bat, McNally advanced to third on a
wild pitch, but the Blazers were unable to knock her in as Wolford
popped up and Brittany Sabol struck out.
The Blazers stifled Stevenon's scoring chance in the bottom half
of the frame. Carianne Sullivan became the runner at second and
moved up to third on a groundout. Desirae Sullivan hit a grounder
to third baseman Taylor Grimmell who got Sullivan in a run-down
between third and home. Brittni Jones combined with Grimmell to
prevent Sullivan from scoring the tying run. After Jessica
Bandzwolek singled to put two runners on, Wolford retired Sara
DiMeglio on a fly out to retire the side and clinch the win for the
Blazers.
Glenn went 3-for-5 in the game with a stolen base and three runs
scored while McNally was 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, three RBI
and a run scored. Wolford picked up her seventh win of the season
by working all nine innings and fanning eight Mustang hitters.
In the nightcap, Wolford cranked her fourth home run of the
season, a two-run bomb in the first, while Dunn, McNally and
Rachael Potts each drove in a pair of runs en route to Hood's
fourth shutout of the season. Wolford pitched the first two
scoreless innings while Bridgette Ringley came to relieve Wolford
in the third and tossed three scoreless innings, allowing just one
hit.
Hood has a pair of nonleague home doubleheaders scheduled for
this weekend. The Blazers will entertain Southern Virginia
University Saturday at 1 p.m. and Catholic University Sunday at 2
p.m.
