Kissimmee, FL – (3/9/2011) – The Chestnut Hill College softball team opened their last day at the Rebel Spring Games with their first win of the season; a 4-1 triumph over Shippensburg University. The second game of the afternoon was a rematch with Lees-McRae College, who defeated the Griffins 8-3 earlier in the week. The contest went to extra innings with the Bobcats completing the season sweep with a narrow 6-5 win.
Shippensburg University (10-5) was first on the scoreboard in today's first challenge; as a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning gave the Raiders a 1-0 advantage. Chestnut Hill College (1-4) responded in the bottom half of the inning. Lead-off walks to sophomore first baseman Giana Cavallo (Turnersville, NJ) and junior catcher Gina DeAnnutis (Hammonton, NJ) put two aboard and after a strikeout; a double from sophomore shortstop Cassie Benson (Rosamond, CA) tied the affair, 1-1. The Raiders then changed pitchers, but a two-out single from sophomore center fielder Allie Schempp (Clayton, NJ) plated two more runs for a 3-1 Griffin lead. A DeAnnutis, two-out single made it 4-1 in the fifth inning and sophomore pitcher Veronica Wilenta (Brick, NJ) took care of the rest. She struck out two in her complete-game victory (1-1), while holding the Raiders to one run on eight hits.
Chestnut Hill College (1-5) led Lees-McRae College (9-6) after three innings, 5-3; as back-to-back, two-out hits from Cavallo and DeAnnutis scored three runs in the second inning. In relief, freshman Brittany DeGarmo (Mt. Holly, NJ) sustained the Griffins lead until the Bobcat rally began with heads-up, fifth-inning base running. They scored one in the fifth inning, 5-4, before a homerun from senior catcher Paige Coleman (Thomasville, NC) tied the contest and sent it to extra innings, 5-5. The Griffins had a chance to take the lead in the top of the eighth inning, but an unfortunate double play ended the at-bat at the plate. The Bobcats took advantage scoring the winning run in the bottom of the frame, 6-5.
The softball team returns to campus before visiting Lincoln University on Thursday, March 17. The doubleheader is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. first pitch.
