April 14, 2011 9:52 PM
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Softball
Principia College Athletics
Softball improves vs Blackburn
Principia College Athletics
CARLINVILLE, ILL. -- Principia softball walked away with one win and one loss today. The loss came first 5-0 followed by a stronger showing the second game with the win 6-3. This first game was a close one, much closer than the score would indicate. Blackburn scored two runs in the bottom of the first, and for the next three innings the game went back and forth. Blackburn scored again in the fifth and two more in the sixth to put the game away. The Panthers put a lot of balls in play and sent several hard hit line drives right at the defensive players. A few inches here and there and the game score could have been very different.
Devon Harrison pitched the whole game and threw very well. She kept her team in it but the offense couldn't find the holes to help her out. The defense played another solid game.
Alicia Girbes-Pierce went one for three with her hit being a double.
Christine Nacewicz did the same thing.
Andie Raffles and
Devon Harrison both got hits, with Andie going one for three and Devon one for two.
Game two was another great step forward for the Lady Panthers. Before todays double header their goal was to focus on being aggressive, asserting themselves and doing what they need to do to play well and win. Game one showed improvement but not enough. The team collected themselves between games and realized that more was needed. They needed to keep searching for that understanding of what it takes to win and they found it in game two. They came out firing, scoring two runs in the first inning. This game, like game one was close and the teams went back and forth until Blackburn tied the score in the fifth.
Prin answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead again only to have Blackburn tie the score again in the top of the sixth. Tonight, the Panthers were not going to let one get away and they came back with three runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Three quick outs in the top of the 7th for Blackburn ended the game.
Casey Lee got the start on the mound and threw five very solid innings.
Andie Raffles came in as relief in the sixth. She did a great job shutting down Blackburn for the final two innings.
Offensively the Panthers cranked out 10 hits.
Bekah Charlston and
Jessy MacMullin were one for two with Bekah getting hit by a pitch and scoring two runs.
Andie Raffles,
Alicia Girbes-Pierce,
Marina Whitney and
Christine Nacewicz all went two for four. Andie had two walks, a home run, two RBI's and scored two runs. Ali stole a base and scored a run. Marina had a double and two RBI's while Christine had a double and scored a run.
