March 16, 2008
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Lady Hawks Softball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader to La Salle University on Sunday at Drexel Field.
UMES (3-7) still had the feel of a young team as they continued to gel, leaving the first game without a hit. LaSalle erupted for 13 hits as they blanked the Lady Hawks 14-0 in five innings due to a mercy rule.
La Salle was led by a sensational pitching performance from Laura Beth McCreesh who picked up the no hitter working all five innings, striking out seven, and walking just one. McCreesh received offensive support from Ali Shepherd and Michelle Sullivan who combined to go 5-7 with eight RBIs and four runs in game one.
The Explorers scored the first two runs of the contest behind a double from Michelle Sullivan.
Shepherd got things rolling in the second inning with an RBI single to center. Sullivan brought in a pair of runs with a two out base hit that was followed by a McCreesh double to bring in two more. Shepherd's three-run homer would cap off the 13 run inning.
Kelli Curcio added the last run of the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the third.
Bonnie Heineken (North Pole, Alaska/North Pole H.S.) was solid in relief for UMES as she worked two and a third innings, giving up five hits and just one earned run.
The hot bats of La Salle continued into part two of the doubleheader as they defeated UMES 8-0 in six innings again due to the mercy rule.
Lady Hawks leadoff batter Cassandra Carlos (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Ranch H.S.) got things going in game two as she drew a walk to open things up. Carlos would later double in the top half of the sixth to break up the no hitter. She finished 1-2 on the day.
La Salle pitcher Kristin Paoletti was brilliant in the second contest as she threw all six innings, giving up just one hit, striking out five, and allowing two walks.
Erica Vile was credited with the second run of the game in the third inning with a bases loaded walk that was followed by a Paoletti RBI on a fielder's choice. Kate Gulkis finished off the scoring in the inning as she brought in Vile on a ground out to second that made it 4-0.
The Explorers added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth and sixth each, including RBIs from Paoletti, Alicia De La Rosa, and Angelina Bisbiglia who capped off the scoring with a two-run homer.
UMES will now travel to North Carolina for a doubleheader against Winston-Salem State on Tuesday, March 18 starting at noon.
