March 4, 2012

Box Score

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Junior pitched Chelsea Brown (New Castle, Pa.) tossed a complete-game two hitter, striking out 15 to propel the Westminster College softball team to an 8-2 victory over Emmanuel College, Sunday morning during the 2012 Rebel Games at the Osceola Softball Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. With the win, the Titans start off the season with a 1-0 mark while the Saints fall to 0-1.

With the score knotted at 1-1, Westminster took the lead for good plating three runs in the third inning. Senior third baseman Erica Kimmick (Parma, Ohio) got things started with a one-out bunt single and advanced to second when sophomore first baseman reached on a fielder's choice as Kimmick was too quick for the throw to the lead bag. Junior centerfielder Layne Carpenter (Marietta, Ohio) delivered the go-ahead RBI single up the middle, plating Kimmick before sophomore second baseman Kelsey Squelch (Pittsburgh, Pa.) came through with the big blow knocking a double down the left field line to knock in two runs and make it a 4-1 contest.

The Saints would get one back in the bottom of the fourth as sophomore pitcher Jennifer Garrity (Lynn, Mass.) led off the inning by drawing a walk. After moving up a ground out, Garrity would then advance to third on a single to center by senior first baseman Kathryn Copp (Fremont, N.H.). Brown was able to mow down the next to Emmanuel batters but EC was fortunate to plate Garrity on a wild pitch during the final at bat of the inning to cut Westminster's lead to 4-2.

The Titans would put the game out of reach with a four-run fifth inning as freshman right fielder Carly Wallock (DuBois, Pa.) belted a bases clearing triple to make it 8-2 and end the outing for Emmanuel starting pitcher Kelly Lloid (Issaquah, Wash.) who allowed all eight runs (six earned) over four innings of work while striking out four.

Early on in the action Emmanuel jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first by manufacturing a run. Sophomore shortstop Julia Levins (Uxbridge, Mass.) led off the game by reaching base after a strikeout on a dropped third strike. She would go on to steal second, advance to third on a wild pitch and come around to give EC the lead following another wild pitch. Brown would retire the Saints in the first frame with a rare four strike out showing.

Westminster evened the score in the top of the second at 1-1 with an RBI bunt single by junior left fielder Brittany Gamble (Poland, Ohio), driving in Squelech who reached earlier in the frame with an infield single of her own.

For the Titans, Wallock finished the game going 2-5 with three RBI while Squelch went 2-3 with a pair of RBI. Also with two hits and two RBI was Carpenter out of the seven-hole while Gamble collected a game-high three hits in the win.

Levins and Copp were the only two Saints able to touch Brown, each with singles while Copp, Garrity and Lloid were also able to reach base with walks.

Brown (1-0) was dominant throughout allowing just the two Emmanuel singles en route to her first victory of the season. Levins (0-1) suffered the loss while Garrity tossed well in relief, working three scoreless innings of work allowing just two hits while striking out two.

The Saints will be back in action later this afternoon when they face off against Sage College at 1:00 PM.