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MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – Sophomore Kerry Iacomini (Pleasant Valley, N.Y.) allowed only six hits and one earned run in 5.1 innings, but the Southern Connecticut State University softball team couldn't close the door on Palm Beach Atlantic on Friday morning at Barry University's Buccaneer Field in Miami Shores, Fla. With the loss the Owls fell to 3-1 overall, while Palm Beach Atlantic improved to 16-15 with the win.
Palm Beach Atlantic struck first, as they manufactured a run in the bottom of the first inning. After Rebecca Bolinger hit a leadoff single, Casey Gibson sacrifice bunted her into scoring position. Bolinger took third on a wild pitch and scored on an error by Owls' shortstop Khristle Lee.
Both pitchers cruised until the sixth inning, as the score held at 1-0 until that point. It was in the sixth inning that the Owls registered their first hit of the afternoon, a one-out single by junior shortstop Amanda St. George (Shelton, Conn.). Sophomore catcher Melissa Corwin (Riverhead, N.Y.) bunted St. George to second, where she was replaced on the basepaths by junior Amanda Pindar (New Britain, Conn.). Pindar crossed home to knot the score on a fielding error by the second baseman on a groundball hit by sophomore Julianne Flood (Poughquag, N.Y.). After Flood stole second, she scored on another fielding miscue by the Palm Beach Atlantic second baseman. The inning came to a close with the Owls leading 2-1.
The Sailfish struck back in the bottom of the inning. After Abbey Shipman walked and advanced to second on a fielder's choice, Iacomini was relieved on the hill by senior All-American Jessica Dempsey (Stratford, Conn.). Dempsey, who was seeing her first action of the 2008 season, allowed only one single and also hit a batter. However, the defense behind Dempsey failed to convert a number of opportunities. All in all, the Owls allowed four unearned runs on three errors in the inning to relinquish the lead, 5-2.
The Owls plated a run in the top of the seventh on doubles by juniors Brittany Gandley (Holbrook, N.Y.) and Christina Wolf (Newtown, Conn.), but the team would not get any closer to the Sailfish lead. In the end, Palm Beach Atlantic took the victory by a score of 5-3.
Heather Laird (6-5) earned the win in relief for Palm Beach Atlantic. Laird allowed three hits and one earned run in 5.1 innings after replacing starter Andrea Fugate, who pitched a perfect 1.2 innings before exiting due to injury.
Dempsey (0-1) took the hard luck loss in her first appearance of the season for the Owls.
The Southern Connecticut softball team is back in action later today, as they challenge Nova Southeastern at 2:30 p.m. from Buccaneer Field in Miami Shores, Fla.
