Bilafer collects three hits

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

ROTTERDAM, N.Y. (April 19, 2009) – Senior pitcher Nicole Welch (Albany, N.Y./Colonie) tossed a four-hit shutout on Sunday afternoon to lead Saint Rose to an 8-0, six-inning victory over the Franklin Pierce University softball team in the second game of a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader at Esposito Field. Saint Rose also won the first game, 5-0, as senior shortstop Ashley Anderson (Portland, Maine/Portland) went 3-for-3 with an RBI and scored twice.

Saint Rose opened the scoring in the first game with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Junior right fielder Megan Rios (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) led off with a single down the left-field line, took second on a passed ball, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI single to center field by Anderson.

The Golden Knights pushed the lead to 4-0 with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Anderson led off with a double to right field, later moved to third when senior left fielder Kerry Monahan (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) bounced into a fielder’s choice and scored on a double to center field by senior first baseman Katie Wiemann (Huntington Station, N.Y./Walt Whitman). Monahan would also score on the double via an error by the center fielder. Wiemann then scored later in the inning when sophomore pitcher Nicole Traylor (Syracuse, N.Y./Henninger) reached on an error by the right fielder.

Saint Rose created the 5-0 final with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Anderson worked a walk, moved to second on a groundout and scored on an RBI single by Monahan.

Senior pitcher Courtney Jacobs (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) threw a complete game and took the loss (3-13) for Franklin Pierce in the first game. She allowed five runs (three earned) on nine hits, walked three, hit a batter and struck out four.

Traylor tossed a four-hit shutout, walked one, hit a batter and struck out four to pick up the win (1-7) in the circle for Saint Rose.

In the second game, Saint Rose scored the only run it would need in the bottom of the third inning. Senior third baseman Cara Piccarreto (Rochester, N.Y./Irondequoit) led off, reached on an error by the shortstop, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, went to third on a single to center by Rios and scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Anderson.

The Golden Knights pushed the lead to 2-0 with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Freshman designated player Amanda Macio (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Wappingers Falls) led off with an infield single and was replaced by freshman pinch runner Lindsey David (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./Mt. Sinai). Macio moved to second on a bunt single by Monahan and scored on a single back through the middle by Wiemann.

Saint Rose broke the game open and extended the lead to 7-0 with five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The big blow in the inning was a two-run single to right field by Macio, while Welch and Rios drove home a run each with singles of their own. Three of the runs in the inning were unearned, thanks to a pair of Franklin Pierce errors.

Saint Rose added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning and ended the game via the eight-run rule. With one out, freshman designated player Sarah Arbogast (Newark, N.Y./Newark) reached on an error by the shortstop, moved to second on a single to left by freshman left fielder Kayla Kuilema (Colonie, N.Y./Colonie) and scored on an RBI single to right-center field by Wiemann.

Sophomore pitcher Kayla Johnson (Hudson, N.H./Alvirne) started in the circle, threw five innings and took the loss (0-8) in the second game for Franklin Pierce. She allowed seven runs (three earned) on 10 hits, walked one and struck out two.

Welch fired a four-hit, six-inning shutout, walked one and struck out seven to notch the win (6-11) for Saint Rose.

The Ravens (5-27, 1-17 Northeast-10) return to the field on Tuesday, April 21, when they return home to host Southern Connecticut State in a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Franklin Pierce Softball Field in Rindge, N.H. Saint Rose (11-21, 7-15 Northeast-10) returns to action on April 22 at Assumption.