March 16, 2008
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. - The Endicott College softball team got its season off on the right track Sunday by defeating both Millikin University and the College of Mt. St. Joseph by scores of 4-0 and 5-1, respectively, at Osceola Park in Osceola County, Fla.
In its season opener, Endicott faced off against the Big Blue of Millikin University. After both teams went scoreless through the first two innings, the Gulls finally broke through in the third. EC rallied for three runs in the inning, with senior backstop Rachel Pearson (Gales Ferry, Conn./Ledyard) delivering the big hit with a two-run double.
The Gulls would add another run in the sixth, and the four-run cushion was more then enough for senior pitcher Jenn Elwell (Tewksbury, Mass./Shawsheen Tech.). Elwell dominated the Big Blue bats, hurling a complete game two-hit shutout. She was in complete control the entire game, striking out five batters without surrendering a walk, as the Gulls captured their first win of the season by a score of 4-0.
Junior pitcher Kristina Bechtold (Westfield, Ind./Westfield) took the loss for the Big Blue, dropping to 0-3 on the young season. Bechtold pitched well, surrendering just three hits and one earned run, but was victimized by Millikin's six errors. After earning the victory, Jenn Elwell's record improves to 1-0. She was incredibly efficient, needing to face just 23 batters to go the distance in the win.
In the second game of the day Endicott was matched against The College of Mount St. Joseph. Endicott got on the board early, scoring one run in the first and tacking on three more in the second to grab a 4-0 lead.
The Lions attempted to mount a comeback in a third when sophomore outfielder Casey Waldman (Batavia, Ohio/Clermont Northeastern) got on base with a walk. Walden would later come around to score and cut the Endicott lead to 4-1.
That would be the only run that junior hurler Jackie Collier (Swampscott, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) would surrender in the game. The Gulls would add another run in the fourth, and hold on for a 5-1 victory.
Senior Tessa Diersing (Norwood, Ohio/Norwood) took the loss for the Lions after surrendering four earned runs on nine hits over six innings. Jackie Collier earned the win for the Gulls to start the season 1-0. She allowed one run on just two hits while tossing a complete game. Senior outfielder Paula McGinn (Lynn, Mass./Lynn Classical) led the EC offensive attack going 2-4 with a home run, two runs scored, and two runs batted in.
The wins propel Endicott to a 2-0 record. The Gulls return to action on Monday when they will face both William Patterson University and Illinois Wesleyan University. Game times are scheduled for 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., respectively, at Osceola Park in Osceola County, Fla.
