Jacobs strikes out three in collegiate finale

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

WALTHAM, Mass. (April 27, 2009) – Senior shortstop Alex Hitchcock (Abington, Mass./Abington) went 4-for-4, drove in a run and scored twice to lead Bentley to a 7-0 victory over the Franklin Pierce University softball team in the second game of a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader at Bentley on Monday afternoon. Bentley also won the first game, 4-0, as senior first baseman Dina Ferriero (Tewksbury, Mass./Tewksbury) hit 1-for-3 with a two-run double.

In the first game, Bentley opened the scoring with an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning. Ferriero led off, reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on two consecutive passed balls.

The Falcons pushed the lead to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman third baseman Jasmine Ortiz (Hamden, Conn./Career) led off with a single to left field and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before a single to left field by Hitchcock and a walk to sophomore second baseman Christine D’Amico (Shrewsbury, Mass./Shrewsbury) loaded the bases. Ferriero followed and knocked a two-run double into center field to bring home both Ortiz and Hitchcock.

Bentley created the 4-0 final with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Hitchcock led off with a single to center field, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, went to third on a groundout and scored on a single to center by sophomore right fielder Lindsay Ayers (Brielle, N.J./Manasquan).

Senior pitcher Courtney Jacobs (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) threw a complete game and took the loss (3-18) for Franklin Pierce in her final career start. Over six innings, she allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits, walked two and struck out three. Jacobs finished her career with 454 strikeouts, more than twice as many as any other pitcher in Franklin Pierce history.

Freshman Tara Fogarty (Chester, N.Y./John S. Burke Catholic) threw a six-hit shutout to pick up the win (11-9) in the circle for Bentley. She did not issue a walk and struck out four.

In the second game, Bentley opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Hitchcock reached on an infield single to shortstop, moved to second on a fielder’s choice and came home to score on an RBI single back through the middle by Ferriero.

The Falcons made it 3-0 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Hitchcock singled back up the middle and came all the way around to score on a triple to center field by D’Amico, who would score on the play as well on an overthrow of third base on the relay.

Bentley then capped the day’s scoring and created the 7-0 final with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. In the inning, freshman designated player Chanelle Morse (Lowville, N.Y./Lowville Academy) drove in a run with a single through the left side, senior center fielder Ashley DeRosa (Wethersfield, Conn./Wethersfield) brought in a run with a groundout, Hitchcock knocked an RBI infield single to shortstop and a run scored on a wild pitch.

Sophomore pitcher Kayla Johnson (Hudson, N.H./Alvirne) threw a complete game and took the loss (0-11) for Franklin Pierce in the second game. She allowed seven runs (six earned) on 13 hits, did not issue a walk, threw a wild pitch and struck out one.

Junior Ashley Messina (Hanover, Mass./Hanover) fired a seven-hit shutout to pick up the win (10-9) in the circle for Bentley. She did not issue a walk and struck out three.

The Ravens conclude the season with a 5-37 record, including 1-27 in the Northeast-10. Bentley finishes its season at 21-19, including 14-14 in the Northeast-10.