Marywood, Cabrini Split CSAC Opener
Kim Flanagan's two-run double in the top of the eigth secured a split with Cabrini College in Tuesday's CSAC opener for Marywood

Marywood, Cabrini Split CSAC Opener

- 3/17/2009 9:51:15 PM

GAME 1 BOX SCORE

GAME 2 BOX SCORE

Radnor, PA - Marywood University let a late lead slip away in the opener then held off a stingy Cabrini comeback attempt in the nightcap as the Pacers opened CSAC play with a split against the Cavaliers Tuesday afternoon in Radnor.  Marywood dropped the opener 2-1 before winning the nightcap 4-3 to move to 6-4 on the year (1-1 CSAC).  Cabrini improved to 3-7 (1-1) after the split. 

In the opener, Cabrini's Susan Schmidt's game-winning RBI single in the bottom half of the seventh inning propelled Cavaliers to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory.  Despite a Cabrini rally on two occassions, including a two-run comeback in the bottom of the eighth inning, Marywood held on for a 4-3 win in the nightcap. 

In the day's first contest, Cabrini trailed 1-0 for three innings before tying score in the home half of the sixth inning on an RBI double from freshman Ryan McDonough.  After holding the Pacers scoreless in the top of the seventh, Melissa Benedetti was hit-by-a-pit to start the bottom half. Chrissy Squillace's sacrifice bunt moved Benedetti to second base, setting the stage for Schmidt's decisive base-hit to center field.

Cavalier pitcher Liz Zimmer lasted seven innings, striking out two batters and allowing five hits. The Pacers' lone run was earned and came in the third inning on an RBI double from Caitlin Hadzimichalis (Harmony, NJ).

Marywood pitcher Nikki Belles kept the Cavaliers off-balance throughout, notching six strikeouts and yielding just four hits. Belles (Rome, PA) surrendered three hits in Cabrini's final two at-bats.

Both the Cavaliers and Pacers drew blood in the first inning of the second game. Marywood scored on a Brittany Davis (Scranton, PA) single following a lead-off triple from Erica Cook (Wyalusing, PA). Cabrini's run came unearned on an RBI double from Benedetti.

The Pacers grabbed a short-lived 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth after an infield single from Cook turned into a two-base throwing error from Schmidt behind the plate.  The Cavaliers answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Kristie Sandefur laced a lead-off home run over the center field fencing.

After retiring Marywood in order in the seventh, Cabrini held two runners in scoring position with two outs. However, Pacers pitcher Kaitlyn Brennan (Taylor, PA) induced a pop-out from McDonough.

The Pacers hung two on the board in the top of the eighth on a two-run double from Kim Flanagan (Monroe, NY). The Cavaliers threatened two steal another game in the eighth, even trimming its deficit to one run, 4-3, with an RBI single from junior Cheri Johns.

With the tying run 60-feet from home plate, Schmidt's game-two heroics were thwarted by Cook at second base. Schmidt's hit through the box was stabbed by Cook going to her right and flipped to shortstop Hadzimichalis for a game-ending 4-6-3 twin-killing.

Johns and Brennan tossed all eight innings for the Cavaliers and Pacers, respectively, in game two. Johns struck out three and allowed nine hits. Brennan K'd six batters and surrendered eight hits as she moved to 3-0 on the year.

Marywood returns to action Friday when the Pacers host Cedar Crest College at 3:00 pm.
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