March 26, 2009
HARVARD TAKES A PAIR FROM THE
BULLDOGS THURSDAY; SQUEAK OUT GAME ONE, 2-1, WIN GAME TWO, 8-1
Box Score Game
1
Box Score Game 2
SMITHFIELD, R.I - The Harvard University pitching staff allowed
the Bulldogs to score just two runs in two games on Thursday
afternoon, taking both games over the Bryant softball team, 2-1 and
8-1, at the Bryant Softball Complex. The loss dropped the Bulldogs
to 1-6 on their home stand with one game remaining against URI on
Saturday.
Second baseman Laura Bowen (Hudson, Mass.) was
a bright spot for Bryant (5-20), picking up three hits on the day
with two coming in game one. The freshman put the Bulldogs on top
in the bottom of the second of game one, lining a single to center
that score Ali Chouinard (Swansea, Mass.), who had
doubled to lead-off the inning, staking the home team to a 1-0 lead
after two.
Samantha Houseal (Mount Joy, Pa.) made that
lead stand-up for the majority of the contest, as she was solid
once again on the hill, going a complete game while surrendering
just two runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Houseal allowed
just four baserunners through her first five innings of work,
including striking out the side in the first.
Harvard (12-6) could not get anything going until the sixth
inning, as Jessica Pledger singled with one out to put the tying
run on first. Hayley Bock stepped in next, and had a fierce battled
with Houseal, fouling off pitch-after-pitch with a full count
before hitting a three-two pitch over the fence in right
centerfield. That would be the difference between the two teams in
game one, as Bock gave the visitors a 2-1 advantage heading into
the bottom of the sixth.
Rachel Brown was excellent in relief, striking out 12 of the
fourteen batters she faced through four innings, only allowing two
baserunners and no hits in that stretch to pick-up her eighth win
of the year. Brown struck out nine in a row at one point, with only
Ashley Coon (Levittown, Pa.) making contact on the
final out of the game.
The Crimson pitching was tough again in game two, as head coach
Jenny Allard used four different pitchers to get the victory. The
combination of pitchers allowed only two hits to Bryant over seven
innings, as the Bulldogs were able to get on the scoreboard in the
bottom of the seventh inning.
The two teams went scoreless through the first three innings.
Bryant got their first hit in the bottom of the third on a bunt
single by Kim Breton (Leominster, Mass.), but she would be thrown
out stealing at second.
Houseal shut the Crimson down over the first three again,
including helping herself out with a stellar defensive play in the
top of the third, robbing Pledger on a line drive up the middle and
throwing to first to double off the runner, getting out of a bases
loaded jam with one out.
Harvard tallied in each of the final four innings, starting with
a single by Melissa Schellberg to score a run in the fourth, giving
the Crimson a, 1-0, lead. Another in the fifth and a lead-off
homerun by Whitney Shaw in the sixth gave the visitors some
insurance, leading 3-0 after six.
Julian Moore allowed just one hit over the first three innings
for the visitors, while Dana Roberts got the win, pitching one
perfect inning in the fourth. Baily Vertovez was also perfect in
her two innings, while Magaux Black gave up one in the seventh.
Harvard put the game out of reach with five runs in the top of
the seventh, highlighted by a two-run double by Jane Alexander,
putting the Crimson on top, 8-0, heading into the bottom of the
last inning.
Bowen got things going for the Bulldogs, hitting a lead-off
triple to right centerfield off of Black. Coon would bring her home
on an RBI ground out to second base, but that would be all Bryant
would get.
Bryant will finish up their home stand on Saturday as they host
intrastate rival, the University of Rhode Island, at the Bryant
Softball Complex (12 p.m.).
Game 1
Harvard 2, Bryant University 1 (Mar 26, 2009 at Smithfield, R.I.)
(Game 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Harvard............. 000 002 0 - 2 5
0 (11-6)
Bryant University... 010 000 0 - 1 6
1 (5-19)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Harvard - Zumbro; Brown(4). Bryant University - Samantha
Houseal.
Win-Brown(8-1) Loss-Samantha Houseal(5-16) T-1:52
A-40
HR HARV - Bock (2).
Game 2
Harvard 8, Bryant University 1 (Mar 26, 2009 at Smithfield, R.I.)
(Game 2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Harvard............. 000 111 5 - 8 13 0
(12-6)
Bryant University... 000 000 1 - 1 2
1 (5-20)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pitchers: Harvard - Moore; Roberts(4); Vertovez(5); Black(7).
Bryant University -
Samantha Houseal; Stephanie Barrett(7).
Win-Roberts(1-0) Loss-Samantha Houseal(5-17)
T-2:00 A-30
HR HARV - Shaw (1).
