
For Immediate Release - 4/24/09 - #350
Top Seeded Hornets Upend #4 Seed Roanoke College 6-2 in 8 Innings from the ODAC Tournament
SALEM, VA - The top seeded Lynchburg College softball team upended #4 seed Roanoke College 6-2 in eight innings from the ODAC Tournament on Friday night.
The first seven innings proved to be a class pitching duel ass each team combined for just five hits and two runs. Jessica Zeman singled in the bottom of the first, stole second base, and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Kelsey Ruitenberg got on base due to a fielding error that allowed Zeman to score to give the Maroons a 1-0 lead. Lynchburg couldn't get on the board until the sixth inning. Audra Della Rosa (Rumford, RI/St. Mary Academy Bay View) led off with a double and reached third base on a Tara Campbell (Leesburg, VA/Loudoun County) ground out. Katie Bruce (Lanexa, VA/Lafayette) got on first base on a fielder's choice as Della Rosa crossed home plate to even the game at 1-1. Neither team could score again to send the game to extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, the Hornets exploded for five runs on just three hits. Brittany Allsop (Milford, CT/Johnathan Law) was placed on second base due to extra inning rules, and Della Rosa executed a sacrifice bunt to send Allsop to third base. Campbell notched a right field single to score Allsop. Bruce came up to the plate and was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with only one out. Rachel Gallagher (Warrenton, VA/Fauquier) stepped in the box and delivered a clutch three-run homerun, her second homerun of the tournament in just two games, to score Bruce and Campbell. Sarah Smith (Danville, VA /Tunstall) made a pinch hit appearance, took advantage of the opportunity with an infield single, and scored after an error by
the Maroons.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Katherine Kouri was placed on second base and moved to third on a Lindly Theroux center field single. Lisa Scruggs stepped up to the plate and grounded out to Taylor Walker, but Kouri was able to score to make it a 6-2 game with a runner on second base with only one out. Bruce was able to seal the deal with a ground out and a pop out to move the Hornets to 2-0 in the tournament. The Hornets are now just one game away from reaching the ODAC Championship game.
Bruce was masterful as she tossed all eight innings to earn her 19th win and has not recorded a pitching loss since March 8. She allowed just three hits and one walk while striking out seven Roanoke (24-10) players. Gallagher was the only player on either team with a multi-hit, multi-RBI performance, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Campbell finished the game 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, and Bruce also had a good day at the plate with one RBI and one run.
Ruitenberg pitched 7.2 innings, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out seven Hornets. Lisa Scruggs recorded one RBI and Zeman was 1-for-3 with one score.
Lynchburg (35-6-1) will return to the James I. Moyer Sports Complex Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. as the Hornets face the #2 seed Bridgewater College Eagles. Bridgewater is one of only two ODAC teams to defeat the Hornets this season, earning a 3-0 victory over Lynchburg on April 17.
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