March 19, 2007
Box Score
Kissimmee, FL - The Wagner softball team defeated Cornell University by a final of 2-1 in the first game of a doubleheader behind another stellar pitching performance from freshman Kate Eshelman (Reno, NV / McQueen). The Seahawks won for the sixth time in the last seven games and improved to 8-5 overall. The Bears fell to 12-2 with the loss.
Eshelman (4-1) struck out a career high 10 batters and won her fourth straight decision while allowing just six hits and two walks. In the process she extend her streak to 26 innings without allowing an earned run.
After three scoreless innings, the Seahawks took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Victoria Batistelli (Huntington Beach, CA / Huntington Beach) started off the scoring opportunity when she was hit by a pitch for the second time in the ball game and the 15th time this season. After a strikeout, grad student Joy Gallagher (Hazleton, PA / Hazleton) moved Batistelli over with a base hit through the left side. The runners would advance on a ground out setting up junior Margaret Gallia (Las Vegas, NV / Community College HS) who brought in both runs with a two out two-run single into center for a 2-0 Wagner lead.
The Bears put together a rally in the top of the sixth when the leadoff batter reached on an infielder error. Two outs later Sarah Ruben took hold of a double into center cut the lead in half at 2-1. Eshelman then struck out the next batter to stop the threat and end the inning.
In the seventh, Cornell posed another scoring chance with consecutive one out singles, but another Eshelman strikeout and a pop up to short ended the game.
Game 1 R H E
Cornell 1 6 1
Wagner 2 4 1
