Softball Wins Two Against Immaculata For Strike Out Cancer Night

(Game 1) / (Game 2)

Widener hosted Immaculata tonight during its annual “Strike Out Cancer Night” and won the first game 8-4 before taking the second, 1-0.

The Mighty Macs (17-13) got the jump by putting two runs on the board in the top of the first inning. Leadoff batter Holly Schell started things off with a single through the middle and advanced to second with the help of a sacrifice bunt, scoring on a fielding error. Danielle Palmisano was the second runner to score; she reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a single to left field hit by Brittany Merkle.

In the bottom of the inning, Widener (16-16) cut the lead in half when leadoff batter Heather Forward (Philadelphia, PA) hit an 0-2 pitch over the center field fence for her second home run of the season.

Both teams scored two runs in the third inning, keeping Immaculata in the lead by one run. Widener jumped ahead in the fourth inning by scoring four runs on four hits and starting pitcher Jackie Korang (Delran, NJ) only allowed one hit in the final four innings. Sophomore First baseman Carissa Harris (Douglassville, PA) led off the fourth with a single to right field and advanced to second on a bunt single laid down by senior Kristina Kenney (Philadelphia, PA). An error left the bases loaded for Forward who hit into a fielder's choice, but some head's up base-running allowed Kenney to score. Senior Jen Nance (Lansdowne, PA) singled to bring in another run and Korang helped herself with a single to right field that brought two more runs across the plate before a strikeout ended the inning.

Senior Jody Salvatore (Williamstown, NJ) hit an infield single in the fifth inning that allowed Harris to score standing up for the Pride's final run of the game.

Korang (5-5) pitched the full seven innings for the win, allowing four unearned runs on five hits in 30 batters faced. Meagan Fitzgerald was credited with the loss for the Mighty Macs.

The only run scored in game two occurred in the bottom of the fourth inning. Forward led off with a left field single and advanced to second base unnoticed. Nance laid down a bunt to put Forward on third, which allowed her to tag up on a fly ball to centerfield hit by freshman Alie Alkins (Aston, PA).

Junior starting pitcher Liz Carpino (Philadelphia, PA) was a force on the mound, giving up only two hits in seven innings, a single in the third hit by Caitlyn Hudock and a center field single in the fourth inning hit by Sam Strickland. Carpino (5-5) walked three and struck out four of the 27 batters faced for the win. Nicole Curcione received the loss, giving up four hits and one earned run through six innings and 20 batters faced.

Between the two games, senior shortstop Casey Hargadon (Wallingford, PA) hit 4-for-6 with two RBI. Forward crossed the plate three times and Nance scored twice, with each tallying one RBI apiece.

"In addition to playing two really fine games, we got quality pitching from Jackie and Liz, good defense, good hitting and excellent baserunning," head coach Fred Dohrmann said. "It was a special night for our club because we were able through our hard work really help a family in need and contribute to pediatric cancer research. I applaud our players on this student-athlete fully run initiative."

Widener will travel to Frederick, MD on Saturday for a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader against Hood, with the first game beginning at noon.

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