Moynagh wins twice, Poulton saves both ends of NEWMAC sweep

April 12, 2008

WORCESTER, MA- Senior Jodi Moynagh (Worcester, MA/Holy Name Central Catholic) tossed six shutout innings in both ends of Wheaton College's doubleheader sweep of Clark University on Saturday, while classmate Audrey Poulton (Charlestown, RI/Chariho Regional) picked up a save during each 3-0 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) softball victory at O'Brien Field. The Lyons, who have won nine straight, are 27-7 overall and 11-3 in the league. Clark fell to 16-8 and 6-4.

Wheaton's senior pitching duo helped snap the five-game winning streak of a team that had been blanked only twice all season and was averaging nearly seven runs on 9.1 hits per game. In 14 innings, Moynagh and Poulton allowed a total of 10 hits. Moynagh earned her 50th career win in game one, fanning 12 batters and yielding only four hits and no walks in six innings. She became just the second Lyon to ever strike out a dozen hitters, and the first since 2003. Poulton recorded a no-hit seventh, fanning a batter.

Junior Brady Benton (Concord, NH/Concord) provided the only offense the Lyons would need by sending the second pitch of the game to straightaway center field for her fifth home run of the season. Benton doubled leading off the third for her 100th career hit before Wheaton extended its lead in the sixth. Junior Stacey Kelleher (Brockton, MA/Brockton) lofted a high fly to left field that bounced off the top of the fence and over for a two-run homer, scoring Poulton, who had singled to open the inning.

On the Clark side, Moynagh yielded a leadoff double in the first before striking out the next seven Cougars. The hosts put together their best threat in the fourth, as runners stood at the corners with no one out, but Moynagh fanned the next two hitters before inducing an inning-ending fly ball. Poulton entered in the seventh, as the first batter reached despite striking out, but a pair of fielder's choice grounders kept a runner on first with two down. The game's final batter sent a sinking liner into right center, where Benton dove in to make a game-ending catch.

Kelleher finished 3-for-3, while Benton, Poulton and freshman Kristen Hunt (Milford, CT/Jonathan Law) had two hits apiece. Sophomore Lauren Blake (Oakland, ME/Messalonskee) had two of Clark's four hits, while classmate Melissa Traft (Milton, MA/Milton) allowed three runs on 11 hits with two strikeouts and a walk.

Wheaton scored twice with two down in the third to grab a lead in game two. Senior Alix Brozman (Chappaqua, NY/Horace Greeley) reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and came home on Benton's single through the box. Benton moved to second on her hit and scored on an error on Poulton's ensuing base hit.

Moynagh worked out of a two-on, two-out situation in the bottom half by fielding a low liner back into the circle, and the Lyons put another run on the board in the fifth. Junior Lynn Cotto (Brookfield, CT/Brookfield) started the frame with a single, and freshman pinch runner Courteney Collier (Bolton, MA/Nashoba Regional) came around on a two-out infield error.

In the bottom of the fifth, Clark put runners at the corners with one down, but Moynagh induced a popup and a fielder's choice to end the frame. Poulton again came on in the seventh, as the fourth batter she faced grounded out to end the contest. Now 16-1, Moynagh finished the game with six strikeouts and two walks while yielding five hits in six innings, while Poulton fanned one during her scoreless seventh in earning her fourth save.

Cotto and freshman Julie Murray (Canton, MA/Canton) each went 2-for-3 for the Lyons, while Blake was 4-for-4, finishing with six of Clark's 10 hits during the twinbill. Freshman Sarah Carter (Worcester, MA/Saint Peter-Marian) allowed one earned run on seven hits with one strikeout.

Wheaton breaks from league play tomorrow, taking part in a three-team tripleheader at Western Connecticut State University. The Lyons face the hosts at 11:00 a.m. and nationally-ranked Tufts University at 1:00 p.m. The Jumbos are 17th in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 4/16/08.
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