Bonnies pick up series sweep in fall opener
Sept. 2, 2007
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - The St. Bonaventure softball team opened the fall season with a doubleheader sweep of Monroe Community College this afternoon, downing the Tribunes 5-3 in the opener and 5-4 in the second game at McGraw-Jennings Field.
The Brown and White used a four-run fifth inning to fuel past the two-time defending NJCAA National Champions in the opener. Sophomore Stephanie Narde ignited the scoring in the inning with a two-run single that drove in freshman Amber Webb-Fife and junior Ashley Kotz to tie the score at 3 apiece.
The Bonnies tacked on two more runs in the fifth when redhirst junior Andrea Swanger crossed the plate after a wild pitch moved past the catcher and sophomore Sherri Thompson knocked in a RBI single to put Bona up for good 5-3.
Monroe CC used a three-run first inning to jump past the Bonnies to start the game. Junior Kathryn Pazda put the Bonnies on the board in the bottom of the second inning with a RBI single.
After a shaky first inning on the mound, Thompson settled down en route to six scoreless innings of work to close the game. She allowed only six hits and struck out three batters in the complete game win. The Bonnies needed extra innings to get by the Tribunes in game two following a three-run fifth inning in which Monroe CC knotted the score at 4-4.
Junior Blair Freeman was placed on second base to start the bottom of the eighth due to the international tie-breaker rules and immediately moved to third after a bunt by freshman Michelle Seeger. The ensuing pitch got by the catcher allowing Freeman to cross the plate for the game-winning run.
In contrast to game one, the Bonnies lit up the scoreboard early with three runs in the opening inning. Pazda notched the first run of the contest after a throwing error to first base. In her first at bat wearing the Brown and White, freshman Samantha Rajski cracked a RBI single bringing in Swanger to put the club ahead 2-0. Senior Brianna Bricker scored from third after a wild pitch to make it 3-0.
Bricker allowed eight hits in eight innings of work, including one strikeout.
The Bonnies return to action on September 15, when they travel to Amherst, N.Y. to take part in the Nan Harvey/Canisius Tournament. The Brown and White will play three games on the tournament's opening day against Canisius (10 a.m.), Niagara (12 p.m.) and Buffalo (2 p.m.), respectively. A fourth contest with the opponent yet to be determined, will take place the following day.
