May 12, 2007

Box Score

Teaneck, NJ -- Freshman Kate Eshelman (Reno, NV/McQueen) hit a solo homerun in the top of the eighth inning, sparking a four-run outburst and carrying Wagner past Monmouth, 4-0, in the first game of the day on Saturday morning at the Northeast Conference Softball Championship in Teaneck, NJ. The Seahawks advance to face Long Island in the conference championship at 12:35 p.m.

Following Eshelman's homerun, her fifth of the season, the Seahawks put runners on second and third with a walk and a two-base throwing error on an attempted sacrifice bunt. Junior Victoria Bastitelli (Huntington Beach, CA/Huntington Beach) doubled home both runners before scoring on a single by junior Ami Iwicki (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) making 4-0.

Wagner senior Morgan Miller (Las Vegas, NV/Silverado) retired Monmouth in the bottom of the eighth to complete a three-hit shutout. She struck out three and walked one in her sixth shutout of the season and 18th of her career to improve her record to 15-9.

Monmouth had its best chance to score in the fourth inning when senior Dawn Gilchrist (Newfoundland, NJ/Jefferson) singled and junior Kara O'Dell (Henderson, NV/Green Valley) was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second with one out. Miller got Wagner out of the jam, inducing a pair of pop flies to end the threat.

The Seahawks threatened in the sixth after they got runners on first and third with just one out, but Monmouth sophomore Kristine Sawlsville (Wyomissing, PA/Wilson) retired the next two batters. Sawlsville finished the day with five strikeouts and held Wagner scoreless for seven innings, but took the loss and finished the season wit a 17-7 mark.