March 30, 2008
Stats
Hamden, CT - A late seventh-inning rally fell short with runners on second and third after junior infielder Andrea Lazzari (Reno, NV/Wooster) hit a laser shot that pelted the centerfield scoreboard for her team-leading fourth homerun of the season, a solo job that put the Seahawks one run closer to potentially knotting up the score. Unfortunately for the Green & White it was not in the cards as they stranded two with the tying run at the plate and split their second-straight NEC doubleheader in as many days, moving to 2-2 in the conference and 10-11 overall. With the 5-2 victory Quinnipiac won its first game in the NEC (1-3) and improved to 11-20 overall.
In that last turn at bat Lazzari hit her round-tripper after senior catcher Victoria Batistelli (Huntington Beach, CA/Huntington Beach) lead off the inning but was unable to reach base, grounding out to second base.
The feeling of a comeback loomed after the two batters that followed Lazzari, junior designated player Jaclyn Vanore (Palisades Park, NJ/Paramus Catholic) and freshman first baseman Christina Pinkus (Cohasset, MA/Cohasset), both singled. Senior rightfielder Ami Iwicki (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) then grounded out next but in doing so advanced the runners to second and third. Then, with Wagner down to its last out senior Margaret Gallia (Las Vegas, NV/Community College HS) hit the ball hard but right at the Bobcat pitcher, Jaimie Iaquinto, who tossed it easily to first base to retire the Seahawks for good.
The Quinnipiac sophomore hurler, did what few teams have been able to do this year in keeping the potent Seahawk lineup to just two runs (only one earned) on four hits, striking out ten and walking four. She had a no-hit bid going into the sixth inning before Margaret Gallia lead off by singling through the right side.
The lone Seahawk unearned run was scored in the top of the first inning after freshman centerfielder Emily Pierce (Phoenix, AZ/Desert Vista) crossed home plate on an error by the Bobcat shortstop on an Andrea Lazzari ground ball.
In the bottom of that same inning Quinnipiac would put two up on the board and take the lead from the Seahawks, one that wouldn't be exchanged for the duration of the game. In that turn at bat the Bobcats were able to push across both scores (both unearned) on Wagner starter, freshman Heather Ochoa (Los Angeles, CA/Notre Dame) the first on a sacrifice fly and the second on a single up the middle after the error of record was charged to Ochoa, herself.
The Californian rookie would be saddled with the loss (4-4) after giving up five runs (two earned) on eight hits, walking three and striking out no one in five and one third innings. She was eventually relieved by sophomore Kate Eshelman (Reno, NV/McQueen) with one out in the bottom of the sixth.
The Seahawks now get ready for their first home games of the 2008 season when they welcome cross-town MAAC foe, the Manhattan College Jaspers, for an afternoon doubleheader at the Lower Athletic Field this Wednesday. First game is slated for 3 p.m.
