LADY HAWKS DROP PAIR TO HAGERSTOWN

Monday, April 21 - The CSM softball team lost a pair of close games to Hagerstown, 6-4 and 4-2.

    CSM led the entire way in the first game, only to see the lead slip away in the top of the seventh, when Hagerstown scored three runs to turn a 4-3 deficit into a 6-4 victory.  Poor fielding did the Hawks in, as they committed three errors in the game, and three of the six Hagerstown runs were unearned. 

    The Hawks jumped on top early, scoring two runs in the top of the first.  Megan Oursler singled to start the Hawks half of the first, and Amanda Boswell sacrificed her to second.  Oursler scored on Heather Turner's double.  With two outs, Karlee Adams hit a big two out double to plate Turner.

    After Hagerstown scored an unearned run in the top of the third to cut the margin to 2-1, the Hawks came right back with a run in the bottom half of the third to take a  3-1 lead.  Amanda Boswell singled, stole second, and advanced to third on an infield out.   Melanie Fowler was hit by a pitch, putting runners on the corners with two outs.  While Hagerstown was making a play on Fowler in a double steal, Boswell scored, and Fowler was able to return to first safely. 

    Hagerstown got a run back in the fourth, on back to back walks to Erin Ross and Megan Creek.  After a wild pitch advanced both runners, Erin Hamersla hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Ross.

    Hagerstown added another unearned run in the fifth to tie the game at 3-3, but CSM came right back with a run to take the lead back at 4-3.  Amanda Boswell hit a rocket off the third baseman's glove for a double, and scored on Melanie Fowler's RBI single.

    In the decisive seventh inning, two infield hits and a Hawk error led to one run, and Amanda McGee's triple scored the other two. 

    Heather Turner got the loss, falling to 10-2 on the year with 2 saves.

    In the second game, CSM (21-8, 10-2) again scored two runs in the 1st to jump on top.  Megan Oursler singled, and Amanda Boswell reached on an error by the shortstop, putting runners on first and second with no outs.  Both runners moved up when Heather Turner grounded out to second.  Melanie Fowler singled to score Oursler, and Boswell scored the second run on a wild pitch. 

    Those were the only runs the Hawks could manage, as they couldn't come up with the timely hit in  later innings.  CSM out hit Hagerstown seven to six, but stranded 11 base runners, 10 in scoring position.  

    Hagerstown (15-8, 7-3), batting second in the nightcap, scored one run in the bottom of the first and one in the third to tie the game at 2-2, and got the final two runs in the 5th. 

    With one out, Brandi Drummond, Amanda McGhee, and Adriane Mallon singled, with Mallon knocking home Drummond.  Erin Ross was intentionally walked to load the bases, and McGhee just beat a play at the plate on Megan Creek's ground ball to score the second run.  Hawk's pitcher Melanie Fowler struck out Autumn Parson, and got Heather Wetzel to ground out to prevent further damage.

    Fowler (8-4) pitched out of a bases loaded situation in the third as well, keeping the Hawks in the game as she only allowed one run.

    Chelasea Jolliffe pitched both games for Hagerstown, improving her record to 7-5 on the year.

    The Hawks have a day off, before traveling to Anne Arundel on Wednesday, and hosting Allegany on Thursday.  Both doubleheaders start at 3:00 PM.