April 19, 2008

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The Providence College softball team defeated Rutgers in a BIG EAST double header Saturday afternoon in Piscataway, N.J. The Friars posted a 7-1 win in the first game and rallied to record a 6-3 victory in the second contest. Providence improved to 20-18-2 overall and 6-6 in the BIG EAST, while Rutgers fell to 18-26 and 3-11 in the league.

In the first game, the Friars belted out 15 hits led by sophomore Jenna Garcia (Morro Bay, Calif.) and freshman Justine Stratton (Fresno, Calif.) who each had three. Providence took a 2-0 first inning lead and never looked back. Garcia scored on a passed ball, while Stratton singled in the second run of the inning. After the Scarlet Knights cut the lead to 2-1 in the second inning, the Friars answered with three runs in the fourth inning to increase the lead to 5-1. Garcia capped off the inning with a two-run double.

In addition to Garcia and Stratton, junior Gina Rossi (Bakersfield, Calif.), sophomore Christy Becker (Atlanta, Ga.) and senior Samantha Pittman (San Diego, Calif.) also finished with multiple hits as they had two apiece. Sophomore Danielle Bertolette (Temecula, Calif.) improved to 11-8 as she pitched a complete game, allowed one run on seven hits and struck out two batters.

In the second game, Providence rallied from a 3-2 seventh-inning deficit to earn a 6-3 triumph. The Friars took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Garcia belted her fourth home run of the season. In the bottom half of the inning, Rutgers scored three times to take a 3-1 lead. Mandy Craig hit a two-run double to highlight the three-run inning. Providence climbed to within 3-2 in the fourth inning as Stratton hit a sacrifice fly to score junior Mary Rose Sheehy (Woodbridge, Conn.) who led off the inning with a single.

The Friars tied the game in the seventh inning when sophomore Julie Fowler (Langley, B.C.) singled down the right field line to score Pittman who led off with a double. With runners on second and third base, Garcia hit a fly ball to plate Fowler and give PC a 4-3 lead. Sheehy then blasted a two-run home run as the Friars increased their lead to 6-3. It marked Sheehy's fourth home run of the season.

PC junior Jennifer Maccio (Huntington Station, N.Y.) earned the win as she pitched seven innings and allowed just two earned runs while striking out one batter.

The Friars are back in action on Sunday, April 20 when they face Villanova in a road BIG EAST Conference double header.