Hounds softball drops pair to ranked teams in Florida

March 7, 2010

Winona State 1, Assumption 0

CLERMONT, Fla. --- Junior righthander COURTNEY STRANG (Solon, IA/Solon) pitched a two-hitter to lead third-ranked Winona State, MN past Assumption College, 1-0, in the Greyhounds softball opener for both teams here Saturday.

Strang outpitched the Greyhounds sophomore righthander JENNIFER LOWREY (Assonet, MA/Apponequet Regional) who pitched an effective four-hitter.

The Warriors scored the games only run in the seventh inning. Sophomore rightfielder SAMANTHA HILDEBRANDT (Cottage Grove, MN/Park) walked to leadoff the inning and was sacrificed to scoring position by senior third baseman KELLY WARD (Orland Park, IL/Providence Catholic). Freshman second baseman MEGAN HARDIE (Crystal Lake, IL/South) singled to centerfield for the game-winner.

Junior shortstop MARISSA PALUMBO (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) and junior third baseman ASHLEY BILODEAU (Manchester, CT/East Catholic) each had a single for the only Greyhound offense in the game.

CLICK HERE FOR ASSUMPTION-WINONA STATE BOX

Wayne State, NE 3, Assumption 2

CLERMONT, Fla. --- Junior catcher SAMANTHA EARLEYWINE (Sergeant Bluff, IA/Sergeant Bluff-Luton) hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning as 18th-ranked Wayne State (Nebraska) defeated Assumption College, 3-2, in softball action here Saturday.

Junior righthander AMBER BAIRD (Seargeant Bluff, IA/Sergeant Bluff-Luton) pitched six scoreless innings to pick up her first win of the season. Sophomore righthander CHELSEA DURSO (Salem, NH/Salem) pitched a six-hitter and surrendered no earned runs for the Greyhounds. Earlywine's home run came after a dropped foul ball that would have ended the inning.

The Greyhounds came back to make it interesting in the seventh inning wit ha two-run rally.

Senior centerfielder MEGHAN DI VITTO (Milford, MA/Milford) led the inning getting hit by a pitch and moved to third on a double to leftfield by sophomore designated hitter CAITLIN CLARY (Belmont, NH/Belmont). After two outs freshman leftfielder BRENNA MORRISSEY (Salem, NH/Lawrence Academy) tripled to rightfield to make it a one-run game.

Assumption, now 0-2, will play two opponents from the Pennsylvania State Conference Sunday . . . West Chester University and Bloomsburg University. Wayne State is now 2-0.

CLICK HERE FOR ASSUMPTION-WAYNE STATE BOX