Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 (ROSEMONT, Ill.) – The Walsh softball team started the season on a good note with a pair of wins over Lindenwood and Wisconsin-Parkside at the Rosemont Invitational. The Cavaliers made quick work of the Lions (2-9) by a score of 8-0 and capped the day off with a 1-0 win over the Rangers (3-10).
In the opening game, the Cavs busted open in the bottom of the third with four runs on four hits. Marissa Bondoni (Sr., Alliance, Ohio/Alliance) started the scoring with an RBI single to left to score Alaina Manor (So., Delaware, Ohio/Rutherford B. Hayes) who started the frame with a single to center. Jenna Head (Jr., Mantua, Ohio/Crestwood) followed up with a single to right that brought home Riley Kiesling (Sr., North Canton, Ohio/Hoover).
After Head stole second, Abbie Yaugher hit in Bondoni and a ground out to second base. Kendra Moore tallied the final run in the inning with an infield single.
Bondoni's day wasn't finished as she helped Walsh's offense in the next two innings. In the fourth, she brought in Anna Anderson (Sr., Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth) on fielder's choice. Danni Murtaugh (So., Dover, Ohio/Dover) plated another run two batters later with a shot to center that scored Mariah Rock (R-Fr., Canal Winchester, Ohio/Bishop Hartley) to make it 6-0.
In the fifth, Bondoni added another RBI with a bases-loaded single to left that scored Anderson once again. It left the bases juiced and with a walk given to Head, the Cavs won in walk-off fashion.
Olivia Pifer (So., Loveland, Ohio/Loveland) was spectacular in the circle as she recorded the complete game two-hit shutout with seven strikeouts.
The perfect day was capped off in the evening with a 1-0 win over Wisconsin-Parkside.
Nikki Newman (Jr., North Royalton, Ohio/North Royalton) scored after an error allowed Manor to reach first safely with two outs in the bottom of the third.
Ryan Kuula (Fr., Macomb, Mich./Anchor Bay) picked up the win in the nightcap with another complete game shutout. She gave up five hits and struck out four against four walks.
The Cavaliers are back in action tomorrow with games against Missouri S&T and William Jewell starting at 3:30 p.m.
