LADY HAWKS DROP PAIR TO CATONSVILLE

Tuesday, March 22 - After losing the first game 12-1, the CSM softball team lost a squeaker in the second game 3-1.  The Hawks had several chances to tie the score, stranding eight runners and left the bases loaded twice, but were unable to push across the tying runs.

    CSM (2-4, 2-2)  drew first blood in the first game, scoring in the bottom of the 1st inning.  Somer Miller walked, and was sacrificed to second by Jamie Buckler.  Miller then scored on an errant throw by Catonsville pitcher Beth Slater, as the Hawks took a 1-0 lead. 

    Catonsville (5-0, 4-0) answered in the top of the second to tie the score at 1-1.  Back to back doubles by Kristin White and Chris Simmers produced the run for the Cardinals.

    The Cardinals broke the game open in the top of the third, erupting for 10 runs.  Catonsville had seven hits and sent 15 batters to the plate during the inning.  The big hit was Sara Schmidt's double with the bases loaded, driving in three runs.  The Cardinals scored a run in the top of the 5th for the final 12-1 margin.

    Beth Slater (3-0) was the winning pitcher, striking out five, walking one batter and giving up five hits.  Jessica Perry (1-2) took the loss for the Hawks.

    In the second game, all the scoring occurred in the first two innings.  Kristen White's homerun with two runners on gave the Cardinals an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st.

    CSM came right back in the top of the second inning.  Ashley Cook singled, and moved to second on a wild pitch.  Megan Starr singled, moving Cook to third and putting runners on the corners with no outs.  Dawn Leigh walked to load the bases, and Candance Wyant's fielder's choice drove in Cook with the Hawks first run.  The ball bounced off the third baseman's glove, right to the shortstop who was covering third, and just beat Starr hustling to third.  Melissa Boswell's walk with two outs loaded the bases again, but CSM couldn't push across another run, and had to settle for just one run and trailed 3-1.

    Jessica Balta (1-2) had a strong pitching performance, giving up only two hits, one of them White's homerun.  Three innings she retired the Cardinals in order, and only one runner reached second base after the first inning.

    The Hawks had a couple chances to tie the score, loading the bases in the sixth when Jessica Balta walked, Ashley Cook singled, and Candance Wyant was hit by a pitch, but Catonsville pitcher Cara Prather (2-0) was able to work out of the jam.

    In the top of the 7th, Jamie Buckler singled and Jessica Balta walked, putting the tying runs on with two outs, but a ground ball right to third baseman Sarah Knotts allowed her to step on third for the force and end the Hawks rally.

    The Hawks will play at Delaware Tech (Owens) on Saturday, March 26 at 1:00 PM.  Their next home game will be Sunday, April 10 when they host Hagerstown in a 1:00 PM doubleheader.