Game One Stats
Game Two Stats
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The No. 21 nationally ranked Southern Connecticut State University softball team split a home doubleheader today against Pace University with the first game going in favor of the Owls, 9-1 in six, followed by a close afternoon loss, 3-2.
The Owls had everything working in the first game on the day. After giving up a single run in the top half of the first, Southern quickly responded as the first three batters,
Brittany Bucko (Wallington, N.J.),
Nicole Buch (Darien, Conn.) and
Kristin Whitley (North Andover, Mass.), safely reached base in the bottom of the first.
Alyssa Downs (Seymour, Conn.) erased the 1-0 deficit and added three more for insurance with a grand slam to put the Owls comfortably ahead, 4-1.
Kate Hoffman (Orange Conn.) followed up the slam with a single and was later drove in off a
Jessica Rosa (Wallingford,Conn.) double. Freshman
Kelsey Cockrill (Haymarket, Va.) settled down behind the comfortable lead her offense provided and threw shut out ball from the second inning on scattering nine hits through 6.0 innings and recorded her seventh win of the season.
Rosa went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Downs led the offense with five RBI with a 2-3 effort with two runs scored. Bucko produced from the top spot in the lineup going 2-4 with three runs scored.
In the afternoon game, Pace jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first off a string of singles followed by another run in the top of the third off a solo home run by Pace. Southern threatened in both the third and fourth innings with at least two runners left on base before finally breaking through with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Bush led off the inning with a single to left followed by a double to left center by Whitley. Both runners scored off an error from a scorched fly ball hit by Hoffman to put the Owls within reach, but the game ended in a 3-2 loss.
Jayme Larson (Aurora, Colo.) picked up her first loss going seven strong innings and allowing three earned off five hits with four strikeouts. She is tied with Cockrill at 7-1 on the season.
The Owls are now 15-3 overall and 3-1 in conference, while Pace is 13-3 overall and 3-1 in conference.
The Owls will be back in action on the road tomorrow against Adelphi scheduled for a 12 p.m. start time.
