FORT MYERS, Fla. (Mar. 16, 2008) -- The Edgewood College softball team opened up the 2008 season on Sunday with games against Carroll College and Bowdoin College (Maine) at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.

The Eagles defeated Carroll 11-0 before falling to Bowdoin 7-6 in eight innings. It is the second straight year the Eagles have opened the season with an 11-0 victory. Edgewood College defeated Crown College (Minn.) 11-0 at the Finlandia Tournament in Marquette, Mich. to open up the 2007 season.

Edgewood College poured on five runs in the first inning en route to an 11-0 victory in five innings. The game was shortened from the usual seven innings due to the eight-run rule. Pitchers Jenna Ryan and Rachel Elliott combined for the shutout with Ryan picking up the win, pitching in three innings. Ryan also produced on the offensive end, hitting a grand slam for the Eagles. Leslie Bell and Jamie Kurt each had three hits each while Jennifer Stephens and Colleen Joyce had two hits apiece. Lorin Kelly pitched four innings for the Lady Pioneers, yielding nine hits and recording five strikeouts.

Bowdoin College used a two-run seventh inning to tie the score at six apiece and send the game into extra innings. In the top of the eighth the Polar Bears drove in a run that proved to be the difference maker, coming away with the 7-6 win. Jennifer Stephens had three hits for the Eagles while Jamie Kurt and Jenna Ryan each homered. Karen Reni pitched a complete game for the Polar Bears, striking out six to pick up the win while Jenna Ryan (1-1) picks up the loss. 

Edgewood College is now 1-1. The loss drops the Lady Pioneers record to 1-2 while the Polar Bears improve to 5-2 overall. The Eagles return to the diamond on Monday for games against New Paltz State and Western New England. 


Edgewood College 11, Carroll College 0 (03/16/08 at Fort Myers, Fla.)
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Carroll College..... 000 00-  0  3  1      (1-2)
Edgewood College.... 524 0X- 11  9  2      (1-0)
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Pitchers: Carroll College - Kelly.
Edgewood College - Ryan; Elliott(4).
Win-Ryan(1-0)  Loss-Kelly(0-1)
Game ended in 5th due to eight-run rule.

Bowdoin College 7, Edgewood College 6; 8 innings (03/16/08 at Fort Myers, Fla.)
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Bowdoin College..... 200 020 21  -  7  9        (5-2)
Edgewood College.... 210 300 10  -  6  8        (1-1)
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Pitchers: Bowdoin College - Reni.
Edgewood College - Ryan; Stephens(7); Ryan (8).
Win-Reni(1-0)  Loss-Ryan(1-1) 
Extra Innings game using International Scoring rules.