Softball
Softball Scores Pair of Victories in Day Two of the Rebel Games
March 16, 2009
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Rhode Island softball team (3-7) collected a pair of victories Sunday afternoon as it defeated Saint Peter's (8-1) and Fairleigh Dickinson (5-0) in the second day of the 2009 Rebel Spring Games.
In game one, Rhody outhit Saint Peter's 9-3 to pick up its first victory of the tournament. The Rams also had five players collect extra-base hits three of which were triples.
URI got on the board first as it plated a pair of runs in the second inning. Junior Melissa Wilson (Longview, Wash.) got the inning started with a solo home run to left field.
Two batters later, senior Alyse Fram (Pawtucket, R.I.) came up and doubled down the left field line. Fram would later advance to third after freshman Tekesha Rhodes (Providence, R.I.) flied out to left field. Senior Stefani Poedubicky (Wrightstown, N.J.) came up next and drove in Fram from third as she tripled into left field.
The Peahens responded with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning, but that would be all they would get for the remainder of the contest.
Rhody went on to score six runs in the final three innings to secure the win.
Freshman Alison Hartzell (Easton, Pa.) picked up the win for the Rams as she came on in relief of fellow rookie Catherine Smith (Lawrence, Kan.). Hartzell struck out nine and did not allow any hits in 4.1 innings of work.
In game two against Fairleigh Dickinson, Rhody was held to just two hits and no runs for the first six innings, but all that changed as the Rams scored four runs on three hits as they picked up their second straight win.
Junior Leah DiBussolo (East Norriton, Pa.) got the seventh inning started as she drew a walk. Freshman Brittany Julich (Kings Park, N.Y.) came on and pinch ran for DiBussolo. Julich then advanced to third after Wilson came up next and singled to left center field. Junior Shauna Hobbins (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) followed with another single, which got the Rams on the board and gave URI two base runners with no outs.
Following a lineup change, which sent Smith in to pinch hit for Fram, the URI freshman drilled her first career home run and collected her first three RBIs.
Hartzell earned the win as she came on in relief to earn her third victory on the year.
Rhody returns to action on Monday at 9 a.m. as it takes on Manhattan in game one of a doubleheader. Game two will place URI against Wagner at 11 a.m.
