LADY HAWKS SPLIT WITH HARFORD

Wednesday, April 21 - After a disappointing performance in the Naval Academy Tournament, where they lost three of five, the CSM softball team returned to their winning ways with a 4-1 win over Harford.  The Hawks were unable to gain a sweep, as the Owls came from behind and won the second game in extra innings 4-3.

    The first game was a pitching duel between CSM's Heather Turner, and Danielle Leader from Harford.  Each team scored a run in the first inning.  Harford drew blood first, as Heather Fotiadis singled home Austyn Ripkin, who had reached on a fielder's choice.

    CSM evened the score in the bottom of the first.  Jamea Waltersdorf singled, went to second on a wild pitch, and came home to score on Danielle Sturman's single, to tie the game at 1-1.

    After that, both pitchers took over.  Leader struck out the Hawks in the 2nd, sandwiched around Annah Rice's single, and Heather Turner struck out four batters over the next three innings. 

    CSM put two runners on in both the third and fourth innings, but were unable to push a run across.  Harford had runners on the corners with one out in the fourth, but Turner turned the Owls away without allowing a run.

    With the score still tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 5th, Heather Turner doubled with two out.  Danielle Sturman again had the big hit, as her single drove home Turner to put CSM ahead 2-1.  Erica Bates and Jessica Donaldson followed with singles, but the rally ended when Bates took too wide a turn around second and was picked off.

    The Hawks got two big insurance runs in the bottom of the 6th.  Annah Rice walked, and moved to second on a passed ball.  Jamie Buckler laid down a perfect bunt, and Annah Rice beat the throw to third to put runners on the corners with no outs.  They were still there with two outs, but ended up scoring when 2nd baseman Angelia Kucharek made a wild throw over the first baseman's head on Karlee Adam's grounder to give the Hawks two big insurance runs and a 4-1 lead.

    Heather Turner picked up the win, and improved to 14-3 on the season.

    With the teams switching batting positions in the second game, Harford scored first again, with a run in the bottom of the third.  Katie Hickman doubled, moved to third on Michelle Burner's single, and came home when Burner was thrown out at second as part of a double steal. 

    The Hawks scored two in the top of the fourth to reclaim the lead at 2-1.  Karlee Adams singled, and Heather Turner followed with a walk.  Both runners advanced on a past ball.  Danielle Sturman's bunt single drove home Adams for Sturman's third RBI of the afternoon.  Erica Bates' fielder's choice RBI plated Turner. 

    CSM (24-5, 11-1) added another run in the top of the sixth to take a 3-1 lead.  Karlee Adams led off with yet another single.  Adams moved to second on an error by the first baseman, who came off the bag too soon on Heather Turner's grounder, putting runners at first and second with no outs.  Danielle Sturman came up big again, with her fourth RBI of afternoon as she plated Adams with a single.

    Harford (15-3, 13-3) got a run back in the bottom of the sixth, when Allison Bates tripled, and scored on Austyn Ripkin's double.  The Owls tied the game at 3-3 with another run in the bottom of the 7th when a throwing error by the Hawks allowed the tying run to score from third with two outs.

    In the top of the 8th Danielle Sturman doubled with one out, but was stranded at second.  Harford scored the winning run when Jessica Zerhauser walked with the bases loaded to give the Owls a 4-3 win.  Heather Turner took the loss (14-4), while Danielle Leader got the win (9-2).

    Danielle Sturman had a big afternoon for the Hawks, going 5-8 with 4 RBI's.  Karlee Adams had three hits and scored two runs, and Jessica Donaldson also had three hits.

    CSM will be back in action again tomorrow when they host Cecil in a 4:00 PM doubleheader.  The Hawks will also host Anne Arundel on Saturday, April 24 in a 12:00 PM doubleheader.