Box Score (vs. St. Joseph's)
Box Score (vs. Calvin)
TUCSON, Ariz. – In the first of two games on Thursday, the Edgewood College softball came up just short as they fell to St. Joseph's College 4-2. In game two the Eagles squared off with Calvin College, and despite leaving 13 runners on base, Edgewood College came away with their first win of the young season by the score of 2-1.
Against Calvin, Emily Monson lead off the game with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Pam Sommer. After an out and a walk, Rachel Elliott laced a single to left center that drove in Monson and gave the Eagles the early 1-0 lead.
The Knights were quick to answer as they tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on a Mallissa VanRooyen single. Edgewood College retook the lead in the third inning when Claire Blake ripped a single to right field that drove in Jessica Spitzer, who singled to lead off the inning.
Edgewood College threatened to score in the fifth inning but they were unable to bring anyone in as they left the bases loaded. Calvin had an opportunity to tie the game in the bottom half of the fifth inning as they had runners on first and second with only one out. After Blake induced a pop out, then the Knights' Kim Vanden Akker hit a fly ball to shallow center field that looked like it was going to get down for a base hit. However, Monson came racing in from her centerfield position and made a nice sliding catch to preserve the 2-1 Eagle lead.
Again in the seventh inning the Eagles had two base runners, but could not bring them around to score as they went into the bottom half of the inning up by just one run. For the Knights in the bottom half of the frame, Mandy Johnson led off the inning and hit a sinking line drive to left field. Sommer came in and made a sliding catch just before the ball landed to keep Calvin's leadoff hitter off base. The next batter ripped a single to left field and advanced to second on an error to put pressure on the Eagles. However, it was not to be as Blake bounced back and struck out the final two hitters to give the Eagles the 2-1 victory.
In the contest, Edgewood College left 13 runners on base while the Knights only left five runners on base. Blake earned the first win of her career as she pitched all seven innings, surrendering one run on five hits and struck out four. Jessica Spitzer and Blake paced the Eagles offence as they each went 2-for-4 from the plate.
In game one, the Eagles jumped on the Bears (5-0) in the top of the first inning when they plated two runs. Monson led off the game with an infield single, and then Sommer drew a walk before Spitzer drove in Monson with a single to left center. Sommer also scored on the play as the left fielder misplayed the ball in the outfield to give Edgewood College the early 2-0 lead.
St. Joseph's answered in the second inning with three runs to take the lead. With the bases loaded, the Bears' Millicia Malvaio got hit by a pitch to drive in the first run. The other two runs were scored on a single by Lisa Sheer as the Bears took a 3-2 advantage. St. Joseph's tacked on an insurance run in the sixth to take a 4-2 lead into the seventh inning.
Edgewood College tried to make a comeback as pinch hitter Blake reached on an error to start the seventh inning. After a strike out, Monson ripped a double which put the tying run on second base with just one out. However, the comeback was not completed as the Eagles hit into a double play to end the inning and the game.
In the loss, the Eagles outhit the Bears 6-3 and did not commit an error to the Bears three. Elliott started the game in the circle and went the distance as she gave up only three hits and four runs and struck out four Bears. Monson led the Eagles at the plate as she went 3-for-4 and scored one run.
Edgewood College will be in action again tomorrow morning when the face off with the same two teams. The games are scheduled to start at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. mountain time. Edgewood College will be providing live stats for both contests, the link can be found on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com.
