Fort Myers, FL (3/12/06) – Senior righthander
ATHANASIA TOTARO struck out nine batters in the first game and Crystal Dahlhaus singled home two runs in the bottom of the eighth to cap a three-run rally as Montclair State knocked off Defiance (OH) and St. Mary's (IN), respectively at the Gene Cusic Classic on Sunday. MSU, now 4-0, defeated Defiance, 4-1 and then came back for a 5-4 win over St. Mary's.
Totaro (2-0) picked up the win over Defiance as she allowed five hits and walked one while helping her own cause at the plate going 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Catcher
MEGAN TANTUM was 2-for-4 with two RBI while Maureen Shockely was 3-for-3 with two runs scored.
MSU plated a run in the first as Totaro led off the game with a double and scored as
JENNIFER JIMENEZ singled through the left side with one out. Montclair added another run in the second Shockley tripled with two outs and scored as Totaro singled to right. Defiance would get a run back in the fourth on an RBI double by Kelsey Sugg, but Montclair would put the game away with two runs in the top of the seventh.
Shockley doubled to lead off the inning and moved to third on a wild pitch before Totaro was intentionally walked. After a pair of ground outs, Tantum singled up the middle bringing home both runners for the final margin.
In the win over St. Mary's, the Red Hawks fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first, but took the lead with two runs in their half of the inning as Jimenez belted a two-run homer, her second of the season. St. Mary's then tied the game in the sixth as Sarah Miesle brought home a run with fielder's choice.
The game then went into extra innings and the tie-breaker and St. Mary's took advantage scoring twice. Calli Davison collected and RBI single to put St. Mary's in front and came around to score for a 4-2 lead.
Montclair State then came to bat in the bottom of the eighth. With pinch-runner
ERICA HEINE on second,
CHERYL BODAK brought MSU within a run as she singled to right scoring Heine.
KELLY KARP and
JENNA WEISS each singled to load the bases. Dahlhaus then stepped up and stroked a single to right field scoring Bodak with the tying run and Karp with the winning run.
Totaro (3-0) picked up the win as she came on to pitch the eighth, striking out one.
CAROLYN MCCREA, who pitched into the eighth inning, allowed five hits and four runs (one earned) with five strikeouts and two walks in her seven innings of work.
Weiss was 3-for-4 while Jimenez and Bodak each collected two hits.
The Red Hawks are off on Monday, and return to action on Tuesday, March 13 as they face Wilmington (OH) and Keene State (NH) at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm, respectively.
