Athletics News and Press Releases

March 18, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jen Steele
(413) 585-3076

Softball Shuts Out Buffalo State in Season Opener

Fort Myers, FL: In their season debut, the Pioneers downed the Buffalo State Bengals 4-0 at the Cape Coral Sports Complex in Fort Myers, FL. The Pioneers improve to 1-0 as the Bengals dropped to 0-1.

The Pioneers came out swinging and applying pressure early as junior right fielder Chloe Pete (Beaverton, OR) reached first on an error by the Bengal’s Jessica Mooney (Tonawanda/NY). First year player Crystal Fryer (Louisville, KY) sacrificed Pete over to second, but the Pioneers were unable to push a run across the board in the first.

The Pioneers’ senior hurler Katie Maroney (Santa Clarita, CA) kept the Bengals hitless until the top of the third when senior Rachel Peruki (Springwater, NY) connected on an inside pitch that dropped in behind second base. The Bengals were able to load the bases with two outs but Maroney caught the number three batter, freshman Jolene Banach (Cheecktowaga, NY), looking at a called third strike.

The Pioneers were finally able to capitalize in the bottom of the fifth inning when senior second baseman Amber Bourque-Laycsack (Tinley Park, IL) reached first on an error by the Bengals’ right fielder. She then advanced to second on a passed ball, setting up sophomore Kate Schoenen (Ellicott City, MD). Schoenen connected on a double, picking up an RBI and ending the scoreless game. Senior catcher Katherine Cascio (Lawrence, MA) continued the rally, hitting a double of her own, scoring Schoenen. Junior Theo Dworak (West Hartford, CT) came in to pinch run for Cascio and advanced to third when designated player Sarah Matari (Hawthorne, NJ) reached first base on an error by the second baseman. Matari stole second base and Pete was hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded, Fryer cracked a single, scoring Dworak, increasing the Pioneers’ lead 3-0. Matari was thrown out at the plate on a fielder’s choice by junior Debbie Sasges (Vancouver, BC) and senior center fielder Sara Watson (Kent, WA) walked, scoring Pete, to pick up her first RBI of the season. The Bengals ended the inning by getting sophomore Niki Banton (Shaver Lake, CA) to fly out to second base.

The Bengals’ Nicole Sabuda (Orchard Park, NY) took the loss, giving up four hits, 1 walk, 1 hit batter, and 3 strikeouts. Maroney was stellar on the mound, giving up 3 hits and striking out 8 and walking 2.

The Pioneers will play again tomorrow, Sunday March 19, 2006, when the play St. Lawrence College at 1pm, followed by New England College slated for 6pm.

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