Lyons drop pair during three-team tripleheader at Western Connecticut

April 13, 2008

DANBURY, CT- The Wheaton College softball team had its nine-game winning streak snapped on Sunday, as the Lyons lost twice during a three-team tripleheader at Western Connecticut State University's Westside Field. The Blue and White dropped the opener with the host Colonials, 7-1 before falling against nationally-ranked Tufts University, 4-2. Wheaton is 27-9, while Western Connecticut State is 19-7 after beating 19-6 Tufts, 9-1 in six.

In a tripleheader that was last played by these same teams in 2005, as the three-game set had been postponed due to inclement weather each of the past two springs, Wheaton began play with Western Connecticut State by quickly plating a run in the first inning. Junior Brady Benton (Concord, NH/Concord) led off with a single, moved to second on senior Audrey Poulton's (Charlestown, RI/Chariho Regional) sacrifice bunt and eventually crossed the plate on classmate Stacey Kelleher's (Brockton, MA/Brockton) two-out single.

Lyon sophomore Andrea Bagley (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) was sharp during the first three innings against the Colonials, allowing only two base runners on one hit. The hosts got on the board twice in the fourth, as a leadoff error led to the first run before a one-out fielder's choice brought home the second run. Western Connecticut State put the game out of reach with five two-out runs on five hits and one error in the fifth inning.

Wheaton had an opportunity to tack on some runs in the sixth, as senior Erika Marini (Pawtucket, RI/Saint Raphael Academy) walked and Kelleher singled with one out. However, Colonial senior hurler Shelby Slie (Seymour, CT/Seymour) retired the final two batters.

Kelleher went 2-for-3, while Bagley took the loss after yielding five earned runs on seven hits in five innings, as she struck out five and walked just one. For Western Connecticut State, junior Loren Angiolillo (Wolcott, CT/Wolcott) had the lone multiple-hit game, going 3-for-3 with two runs, two RBI and two doubles, and a pair of additional Colonials drove in two runs apiece. Freshman Amanda Caouette (Watertown, CT/Watertown) allowed four hits in four innings for the win, while Slie had a three-inning save.

Tufts, which is ranked 17th by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), struck first in Wheaton's second contest of the day, as sophomore Casey Sullivan (Berlin, CT/Suffield Academy) hit a solo home run with one down in the bottom of the first inning. The dinger snapped Lyon senior Jodi Moynagh's (Worcester, MA/Holy Name Central Catholic) shutout streak at 22.2 innings.

Wheaton came from behind with one down in the top of the second inning, as freshmen Kristen Hunt (Milford, CT/Jonathan Law) and Nicole DeRosa (Greenwich, CT/Greenwich Academy), each playing within an hour of their hometowns for the first time as collegians, slugged back-to-back solo homers. The Lyons put two more runners on base with one down but could not push either across.

In the fourth, Wheaton loaded the bases with none out, but the Blue and White rally was squelched after an outfield fly ball turned into a double play when the Jumbos cut down a Lyon runner at the plate. The Jumbos built upon that defensive momentum by plating three runs in the bottom half. Senior Megan Cusick's (Albany, NY/Albany) two-run single made it 3-2 before another run scored on a groundout. Tufts spun a 6-4-3 double play to end Wheaton's fifth, and an unconventional 6-3-2 twin killing finished the Lyons during the sixth.

Hunt ended game two 3-for-3, while freshman Rachel Merrick (Methuen, MA/Central Catholic) added a pair of hits. Moynagh lost for just the second time, falling to 16-2 after giving up four earned runs on seven hits in six innings with three strikeouts and two walks. Senior Danielle Lopez (Danvers, MA/Danvers) had two of Tufts' hits, while junior Lauren Gelmetti (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) won despite allowing 10 hits, as she struck out four.

Wheaton is off until Friday, when it hosts its final two New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) games against defending league champ Wellesley College at 3:30 p.m. A Lyon sweep would put Wheaton in a good position to capture its seventh regular season title in the league's 10-year history.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 4/14/08.
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