Softball
Softball Splits Doubleheader with La Salle to Conclude Season
May 3, 2009
KINGSTON, R.I. - The Rhode Island softball team (14-37 overall; 3-17 Atlantic 10) split a pair of games with La Salle as it defeated the Explorers 6-3 in game one, but fell 7-6 (nine innings) in game two Sunday afternoon at the URI Softball Complex.
La Salle took an early lead in game one as it plated three runs in the first inning thanks to a three-run home run to left field by DJ Guinn. In the opening frame, the Explorers collected two hits against freshman starter Alison Hartzell (Easton, Pa.).
After the first, Hartzell held La Salle scoreless and allowed just three hits for the remainder of the game as she collected her 10th victory of the season.
The URI right-hander finished the game with five strikeouts. This season, Hartzell has struck out five or more batters on 10 separate occasions.
URI began to chip away at La Salle's lead as it plated one run in the second. Junior Leah DiBussolo (East Norriton, Pa.) came around from third to score the Rams' first run of the game. DiBussolo got on base after she led off the inning with a double to right center field.
Rhody tied the game in the third thanks to a two-run home run to left field by Melissa Wilson. Wilson's homer was her team-leading fifth of the season.
URI would then plate two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth to take a 6-3 lead that it would not relinquish.
In game two, Rhody was held to just four hits through six innings and trailed 2-0 heading into the bottom half of the seventh inning.
In the seventh, senior Stefani Poedubicky (Wrightstown, N.J.) and sophomore Amanda Sbei (Collegeville, Pa.) sent the game into extra innings as they both came around to score from third and first base, respectively following a double to right center field by freshman Brittany Julich (Kings Park, N.Y.). Julich finished the year with a team-best 21 RBIs.
La Salle responded in the eight with four runs on five hits, but the Rams would not go away as they scored four runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame.
Freshman Nicole Massoni (Bay Shore, N.Y.) drilled a two-run home run to left center field. Massoni's home run was her third of the season.
Two batters later, Poedubicky came up and tripled to right center field, which scored senior Rachel Rosenwasser (Montgomery, N.Y.) all the way from first. Poedubicky would come into score from third following a pinch-hit sacrifice fly from junior Shauna Hobbins (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.).
In the ninth, La Salle re-claimed the lead in the thanks to an infield single by Gina Massaro, which drove in Guinn from third.
Senior Odalys Torres (Carteret, N.J.) took the loss after she came on in relief of sophomore Stacey Stanovich (Northbridge, Mass.).
