May 1, 2010

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Fairfield, CT - The Pioneers got a complete game two-hitter from Nicole Sidor (North Vancouver, BC) and a RBI triple from Courtney Lee (Camarillo, CA) in a 1-0 victory in game two of a double header sweep over Bryant Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Park.  Sacred Heart got a 4-2 win in the opener after back-to-back passed balls and an error with two outs in the fifth broke open a tie game.

Bryant (8-35, 4-14 NEC) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning of the opening game as three straight Bulldogs reached with two outs.  Ashley Coon capped off the rally with an RBI single to right field.  The Bulldogs starting pitcher, Ashley Houseal would work five innings allowing four runs, two earned, and six hits.

Sacred Heart (23-24, 10-6 NEC) would answer right back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first.  Taylor Froelich (Garden Grove, CA) opened the game with a single to right center but was gunned down at second trying to stretch it to a double.  The next two batters, Nikki Surkes (Brightwaters, NY) and Lee, would each draw walks and would both move into scoring position when Houseal balked.  Liz Tsipouras (Simi Valley, CA) put a single up the middle to drive in her team leading 25th RBI and tie the game at one.  Amanda Bradley (Langley, BC) then hit into a fielder's choice, retiring Tsipouras at second, and Lee would make a great base running play to score from second to give SHU a 2-1 advantage.

The Bulldogs would knot the game at two in the next half inning as Lindsay Martin doubled with one out and scored two batters later on a Lauren Bowen RBI single.  Sacred Heart game one starter Jen Russell (Seymour, CT) continued to work around runners in base but would hold for her 13th win of 2010.  She finished with six strike outs and walked just two batters while allowing only the two runs.

The Pioneers got two runners in the bottom of the fifth after Jill Timer (La Mesa, CA) hit a single down the left field line and Froelich drew a walk.  Two of the next three pitches would get by the Bryant catcher allowing a run to cross the plate and give SHU a 3-2 edge.  The Pioneers would add an insurance run as a two-out error allowed them to build a 4-2 lead going into the final innings.  Bryant would strand one runner on base in each of the last two frames as Sacred Heart earned the victory in the twinbill opener.

Sidor was the star of game two as the freshman held the Bulldogs to just two hits in the finale, earning her eighth win of the season.  The right hander struck out nine batters and at one point retired 15 consecutive Bulldogs.  Bryant hurler Jennifer Jacob did her best to stay with Sidor but picked up the loss allowing one run on five hits and striking out four in six innings of work.

The Pioneers scratched out the only in the finale in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Froelich led off the frame ripping a ball at the third baseman, it would be scored an infield hit.  Two batters later Lee launched a triple off the wall in right field to provide the game winning run.  Sidor allowed one of the Bulldogs two hits in the top of the seventh but got Talia Zizza to strike out swinging to end the game.

Sacred Heart travels to Hamden, CT tomorrow to take on Northeast Conference rival Quinnipiac.  The Pioneers sit just one game behind the Bobcats in the race for the final NEC playoff spot.  First pitch is set for 12:00 pm.