March 25, 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sophomore Jennifer Connell (Roswell, Ga./Roswell) earned victories in both ends of the Georgetown University softball team's (13-23) doubleheader against LaSalle University on Tuesday, as the Hoyas won game one 4-2, before outslugging the Explorers in the second game, 8-6 at Guy Mason Field. Connell allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits over 7.0 innings in the first game, working her way out of several jams to strand nine LaSalle base-runners. In the second game, she allowed three runs on six hits over 6.1 innings, while striking out six to earn the victory, after replacing freshman Melissa Conners (Wellington, Fla./Wellington) who had hit three batters in the first inning. Sophomore Demetria Cipriano (Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Springs Charter) went 5-for-6, scoring four runs and driving in three over two games to lead the Hoyas offense. Sophomore Samantha Peters (Suwanee, Ga./Collins Hill) went 5-for-7, driving in four runs in a winning effort. Basically I was just hitting my spots and (catcher) Suria Bahadue called an excellent game," Connell said. "We are coming off a bad game and we knew we couldn't come out and underestimate LaSalle, so we just had to come out strong." In the first game, sophomore Peters got the Hoyas out to a quick lead, hitting a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, her seventh of the season, to give GU a 3-0 lead. The Explorers answered back quickly, putting two runs on the board, both scoring on Ali Shepherd's double in the top of the third inning, to bring LaSalle within a run. Connell was able to strike out Gina Massaro with runners on second and third base to end the threat.
GU would add one more run in the bottom of the fifth inning after sophomore Demetria Cipriano (Coral Springs, Fla./Coral Springs Charter) led off with a double to left field. Cipriano would later score on Peters' single, giving the Hoyas a 4-2 lead, the eventual final score. LaSalle jumped out quickly in game two against Conners, as Angelina Bisbiglia's one-out double drove in two runs. Bisbiglia later came around to score on a wild pitch, giving the Explorers a 3-0 lead. Cipriano then went to work to bring the Hoyas back. In the bottom of the first inning, she hit her first home run of the season for the Hoyas first score. In the bottom of the second inning, Cipriano doubled to right field, driving in two more runs to tie the score at three apiece. GU took the lead in the bottom of the third inning, when junior Christina Gallinari (Crestwood, N.Y./Loyola School) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, to let a run cross the plate. Freshman McKinley Cooper (McLean, Va./Langley) drove in a run and freshman Aimee Moffat (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield) drove in a run and scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning, to put Georgetown up, 7-3. "Our offense has really come around this year," Connell said. "Being behind 3-1 and then to be able to come back is amazing. If I can hold an opponent, just knowing we can go out and score runs and win is a huge motivational factor." LaSalle would close the gap to one run, after Kelli Curcio and DJ Guinn each homered in the top of the fifth inning, but the Hoyas added another run and Connell retired the last six batters of the game, to preserve an 8-6 victory. |
