Pacers Head to Post-Season with Sweep of Scranton
Erika Cook used extra innings against Scranton Monday to break the career doubles mark as Marywood swept the Royals to end the regular season

Pacers Head to Post-Season with Sweep of Scranton

- 4/27/2009 11:00:38 PM

GAME 1 BOX SCORE

GAME 2 BOX SCORE

Scranton, PA - Marywood University extended its school-record for most victories in a season by sweeping The University of Scranton in a non-conference doubleheader Monday evening at Tripp Park.  In the opener, freshman outfielder Janessa Bednash (Mayfield, PA) belted a pair of doubles and drove in three runs as the Pacers went on to post an 8-5 victory. In the nightcap, senior pitcher Mallory Gable (Hughestown, PA) struck out 17 batters and allowed just five hits in a 5-2 victory in eight innings. With the wins, the Pacers closed their finest regular season in school history by improving to 27-10, while the Royals fell to 12-16.

Scranton took a 2-1 lead in the first game on a two-run home run by sophomore Annie Zeleniak in the third inning. Bednash then hit an RBI double to highlight a four-run rally in the fourth and followed through with a two-run double during a three-run rally in the next inning as the Pacers extended their lead to 8-2. Freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Brennan (Taylor, PA) scattered nine hits and struck out four in picking up the complete game victory.

Freshman Jillian Flanagan (Monroe, NY) finished with two hits and an RBI and junior Colleen Regan (Endwell, NY) belted a double and scored twice. Zeleniak's home run was her fourth of the season. She also scored twice and finished with three RBI. Losing pitcher Isabel Mendez struck out five and allowed only three earned runs.

The second game turned out to be a pitching duel between Gable and Scranton first-year hurler Kelly Zaccheo. Marywood took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Jillian Flanagan singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice by sister Kim Flanagan (Monroe, NY), moved over to third on a single by junior Lauren Nealon (Scranton, PA), and came in to score on an error in the Royal outfield.

Scranton had an opportunity to get on the scoreboard first, but Pacer outfielder Kim Lope (Clifton, NJ) threw out Zaccheo at the plate from deep right center field trying to score from first-base on a double by Zeleniak in the bottom of the first. Zaccheo opened the frame with a single.

The Royals did manage to tie it up in the sixth when sophomore Christine McGarry walked, stole second, and came around to score on an RBI single by Zeleniak to center field.

In the top of the eighth, Marywood exploded for four runs on five hits to break the game open. Cook hit an RBI double to left center field and freshman Ashley Dommes (Scranton, PA) hit a two-run
double after senior Caitlin Hadzimichalis (Harmony, NJ) singled to put runners on the corners. Dommes eventually came around to score on a wild pitch.

Cook's double was the 45th of her career, breaking current assistant coach Megan Haikes (2005-2008) previous Marywood all-time record of 44. 

Marywood, the third seed in the upcoming Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) playoffs, will host sixth-seeded Gwynedd-Mercy College Wednesday afternoon in a single seven inning game beginning at 4:00 pm. 
Print Friendly Version