Saint Rose pitching cedes three hits in two games, including game-one no-hitter

Boxscore Game One
Boxscore Game Two

ROTTERDAM, N.Y. (April 24, 2008) – College of Saint Rose pitching allowed only three hits in two games as the Golden Knights swept a Northeast-10 Conference softball doubleheader from Franklin Pierce University on Thursday night at Esposito Field. Senior Kristen Calahan (LaGrange, N.Y./Arlington) tossed a no-hitter to lead the Golden Knights to an 8-0 win in game one, while junior Tracy Chesebrough (Duanesburg, N.Y./Duanesburg) gave up only three hits in a 2-1 game-two victory.


Saint Rose 8, Franklin Pierce 0 (Game One)

Calahan (6-10) saw only two Ravens reach base in the first matchup of the day, striking out six without allowing a hit as Saint Rose earned an 8-0 decision in six innings.

Junior Katie Wiemann (Huntington Station, N.Y./Walt Whitman) and freshman Nicole Traylor (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger) each went 2-for-3 with two runs scored for Saint Rose, while junior Cara Piccarreto (Rochester, N.Y./Irondequoit) added a hit, drove in two runs and scored once.

Junior Stephanie Howard (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) was the only Raven to reach base on the day against Calahan, working a two-out walk in the second inning and then reaching via an error in the fifth inning.

The Golden Knights got the only run they would need off freshman Caitlin Beagan (Warwick, R.I./Pilgrim) in the first inning, as senior Jessica Pastore (East Greenbush, N.Y./Columbia) reached on an error by Beagan (0-5) and eventually scored on a two-out single by sophomore Amanda Morano (Highland, N.Y./Highland).

Saint Rose added a run in the second inning on a leadoff homer from Traylor, and ended the game an inning early by scoring four times in the bottom of the sixth inning. The first five batters reached against Beagan and senior Becky Aalto (Hubbardston, Mass./Gardner) in the frame, and Calahan ended the contest by reaching on an error to score a run.

Saint Rose 2, Franklin Pierce 1 (Game Two)

Chesebrough and Raven junior Courtney Jacobs (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) each gave up only three hits in the nightcap, but Pastore drove in two runs in the bottom of the fifth to give Saint Rose a 2-1 win and the doubleheader sweep.

Chesebrough (9-7) struck out 16 batters in seven innings while allowing three hits and one run in a dominating effort for Saint Rose. Jacobs (4-13) pitched very well for the Ravens, giving up only three hits and two unearned runs while striking out five in six innings.

The teams combined for three hits in the first four innings before Saint Rose broke through in the bottom of the fifth. Two walks and an error by freshman Emily Griffin (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) loaded the bases with one out in the inning, and Pastore delivered a key two-run single to give the Golden Knights a 2-0 lead.

The Ravens cut the lead in half in the top of the sixth inning, as Griffin hit a two-out double and junior Jackie Prybella (Marshfield, Mass./Marshfield) followed with an RBI triple down the left field line. Chesebrough responded by striking out the last four batters of the game, however, to seal the win for Saint Rose.

Franklin Pierce (8-32, 7-19 NE-10) returns home on Tuesday for the team’s 2008 home finale, as the team celebrates Senior Day with a pair of games against Saint Michael’s College beginning at 3 p.m. at the Franklin Pierce Softball Field. Saint Rose (15-17, 12-10 NE-10) takes to the road tomorrow for a doubleheader at Southern New Hampshire University at 3 p.m.