Softball
Softball Falls 2-1 In Pitcher's Duel
May 1, 2009
KINGSTON, R.I. - Freshman Alison Hartzell pitched 7.0 innings and scattered seven hits, but it was not enough as the Rhode Island softball team (13-35; 2-15 Atlantic 10) dropped a 2-1 decision to Fordham Friday afternoon at the URI Softball Complex.
Fordham jumped out to an early lead as plated two runs on two hits in the top half of the first, but the Rams would not score again on the URI right-hander as she limited her opponents to just five hits for the remainder of the game.
After facing seven batters in the first inning, Hartzell settled down and retired 10 of the next 13 Fordham batters.
Rhody had a pair of opportunities to the tie the score in the early innings as it had a pair of runners in scoring position with two outs in both the first and third innings, but on both occasions, Fordham starter Jen Mineau was able to hold URI scoreless.
After the third, Mineau retired six of the seven Rams to maintain her shutout through the fifth inning, but in the top of the sixth, freshman Nicole Massoni (Bay Shore, N.Y.) got the Rams on the board as she drove a solo home run over the right field wall, which cut Fordham's lead in half.
Following Massoni's second round-tripper of the year, junior Darci Borden (Elma, Wash.) and senior Stef Poedubicky (Wrightstown, N.J.) hit back-to-back singles, but Mineau was able to get out of the inning as she got junior Jackie Kampmeier (East Norriton, Pa.) to fly out to left field to end the inning.
In the seventh, Rhody put its first two runners on base, but Mineau secured the win as she retired the next three URI batters.
Hartzell took the loss and fell to 9-10 on the year.
Rhode Island will play Fordham again tomorrow afternoon beginning at Noon. Prior to the game, URI will honor seniors Alyse Fram (Pawtucket, R.I.), Poedubicky, Rachel Rosenwasser (Montgomery, N.Y.) and Odalys Torres (Carteret, N.J.).
