FREDERICK, Md. - Hood College allowed just three runs over two games to sweep a non-conference softball doubleheader from visiting Marymount 6-1 and 4-2.
Inside the Circle
- Rebecca Gottleib held the Saints to one run on four hits during her 10th complete game of the season. The first-year pitcher allowed one unearned run, struck out four and walked two.
- Rachel Benden struck out six in a complete-game win in the nightcap. She allowed two runs on seven hits and walked a pair.
At the Plate
- Jocelyn Pfleiger saw her 18-game hitting streak come to an end in game two but hit her fifth home run of the year in the opener to tie Hood's freshman record.
- Colleen Blasko and Gottleib were the only Blazers with hits in both games. Gottleib finished the day 3-for-5 with a double, a walk and two RBIs.
Hood 6, Marymount 1
- The Saints scored their only run of the game in the top of the first. Emily Corcoran singled and moved to second when the ball was misplayed in the outfield. Kaylynn Johnson knocked her in with a two-out double for a 1-0 lead.
- Hood immediately answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. After Sammy McIntosh was hit by a pitch, Cailyn Barthlow reached on a fielder's choice and Pfleiger and Benden singled to load the bases. Gottlieb ripped a double into the gap in right-center, driving in Barthlow and Pfleiger for a 2-1 lead.
- Hood added four more runs in the bottom of the second to pull away. Kiersten Tomshack singled to start the inning. Blasko tried to move her over with a bunt but beat the throw to first. Tomshack got caught off the bag at second, however, for the first out. Barthlow made it 3-1 with an RBI single down the line in left, scoring Blasko. Pfleiger followed with a three-run home run to left field to extend the lead to 6-1.
- After allowing two hits in the first inning, Gottleib cruised through the next six innings. She did not allow another hit until the fifth inning, retiring 14-of-17 over the second through sixth innings. The Saints threatened in the seventh Sara Emig walked and Sheila Kiernan singled. The runners advanced to second and third with two outs before Gottleib got Samantha Cinotti to ground out to third to end the game.
Hood 4, Marymount 2
- Both teams again did their scoring early in game two.
- Marymount scored twice in the second to take a 2-0 lead. Cinotti and Shanyn Burch had RBI singles in the inning. Leamer scored on Cinotti's base hit up the middle and Burch drove in Cinotti with a single to left.
- Gottleib walked to open the bottom of the second. With one out, Alyssa Walters hit a ground ball to short but the throw to second to get Gottleib was dropped and both runners were safe. Gottleib was erased on a fielder's choice grounder by Jordan Long, but Walters came home on a single through the middle off the bat of Blasko.
- Hood trailed 2-1 before Marymount committed four errors with two outs in the third extend the Blazers' inning. Benden reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, followed by a Gottleib single and a Mallorie Hetzel walk to load the bases. Walters hit a pop up to second base that was dropped, allowing Benden and Gottleib to score. Marymount threw home to try to get Gottleib, but the throw was wild and Hetzel crossed home for a 4-2 lead.
- That proved to be all the offense Benden needed. After a leadoff single in the third, the junior retired 15 of the next 17 hitters to end the game.
For the Saints
- Cinotti went 2-for-4 in game two for the only multi-hit game for Marymount.
- Corcoran, Johnson and Kiernan each had one hit in both games.
- Burch pitched four-innings of one-hit relief in the opener, then threw a complete game in the nightcap. In game two, she did not allow an earned run, allowing four hits and four walks.
- Morgan Hunt took the loss in game one. She allowed six runs on seven hits in two innings.
Notes
- Hood improved to 11-8-1 on the year and has won four straight.
- Marymount, in its first year of softball, dropped to 8-12.
Up Next
The Blazers host Eastern on Saturday, April 2 for a Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth doubleheader at 1 p.m.
