03/07/07

St. Scholastica (1-3) picked up their first win of the season with a 9-0 win in five innings over Macalester College (1-1) to split a doubleheader with the Scots on Wednesday night in the Irish Dome in Rosemount, Minnesota.

Coach Jen Walter shook things up in game two of the twin bill fielding a lineup that included one player making her fist collegiate start, four others making only their second career starts, and seven players that had a combined 11 starts between themselves.

Experience was on the mound for Walter though as she handed the ball to senior Rilee Dawson who proceeded to pitch a gem of game, keeping the Scots off-balance all night long. She allowed only solitary singles in the second and third innings before facing her first threat in the fourth which she worked her way out of behind some slick fielding from her young infield.

In game one of the doubleheader, the Saints put runners on, had them in scoring position, but couldn't get them home. This game, especially the third inning, was a completely different story although the first inning was hauntingly familiar.

With two outs in the bottom of the first, Mary Jo McNamee walked and Gina Garramone lashed a single up the middle that moved McNamee to third with Garramone moving to second on the throw to third. Like in the first game, the Saints left runners stranded in scoring position, though, as starting Scots pitcher Kristin Mainz forced a ground out to second that ended the inning for the Saints.

Finally, in the bottom of the second the Saints were able to push a pair of runs across to grab their first lead of the night in the pair of games against the Scots.

In the third, St. Scholastica broke the game open scoring seven runs -- five unearned -- on four hits, three walks, two stolen bases and a costly Macalester error as the Saints sent 13 batters to the plate in the damaging inning.

Dawson pitched five innings of six-hit ball, struck out nine without surrendering a walk, and didn't allow a runner to move past second base in pitching the Saints to their first win of the season. Mainz took the loss for Macalester, pitching two and a third innings and surrendering eight runs, five of which were unearned, on four hits and five walks.

Garramone led the Saints at the plate going 3-for-3 with two walks, a run scored and an RBI. Chelsey Weiss picked up two RBI with a second-inning single and then another RBI in the big third inning on a fielders choice play that scored Kristin Swartz.

Game 1 recap -- Game 1 box score