April 25, 2004

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Freshman Rachel Bartholomew (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) batted a combined 6-for-8 with four runs batted in to lead the Providence College softball team to a double header sweep against Pittsburgh (4-2, 6-2) on Sunday, April 25 at Raymond Field. The Friars improved to 30-18-1 overall marking the first time since 1995 that a Providence team has won 30 games or more. In addition, the Friars moved their BIG EAST record to 8-8, their highest win total in conference play since 1996 when they won nine games.

In the first game, the Friars took a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Providence loaded the bases with none out and freshman Shannon Garvin (Fresno, Calif.) and Rachel Bartholomew each hit RBI singles to left field to drive in juniors Jackie Karsnia (Spring, Texas) and Kalena Petersen (Mission Viejo, Calif.), respectively. The Panthers battled back with one run in the fifth inning and Christa Hunter tied the game in the sixth inning with a solo home run. The Friars won the game in the bottom of the seventh inning as Rachel Bartholomew hit a two-run walk-off home run. Senior Chrissy Iannolo (Syracuse, N.Y.) also scored on the play as she reached on an error.

PC senior pitcher Cori Van Dusen (Riverside, Calif.) earned the win as she hurled a complete game, allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and struck out one batter. Pittsburgh's Laura Belardinelli pitched six-plus innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on 11 hits and struck out two batters.

The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the second game as pinch runner Morgan Howard scored on an error in the second inning. The Friars also took advantage of an error in the third inning to tie the game, 1-1. In the fifth inning, the Friars erupted for five runs to take a 6-1 lead. Sophomore Elena Romero (Chula Vista, Calif.) and Van Dusen began the inning with back-to-back home runs. Garvin drove in two runs with a double and Rachel Bartholomew capped off the inning with an RBI double. The Panthers scored one run in the sixth inning on an RBI double by Joey Scarf, but they could not get any closer.

Junior Nicole Bartholomew (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) pitched seven innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and struck out seven batters to earn her 10th win of the season. Meghan Bostick took the loss for the Panthers as she pitched six innings and allowed six runs (two earned) on 12 hits and recorded two strikeouts.

Sunday, April 25, 2004
vs. Pittsburgh - Providence, R.I.

GAME 1
Inning                         1 2 3 4 5 6 7   -  R   H   E
Pittsburgh (18-27, 3-8)        0 0 0 0 1 1 0   -  2   5   1
PROVIDENCE (29-18-1, 7-8)      0 0 2 0 0 0 2   -  4   11  2


WP	-	PC, Cori Van Dusen (13-9) - 7 innings
LP	-	Pitt, Laura Belardinelli (9-11) - 6 2/3 innings
HR	-	Pitt, Christa Hunter (4); PC, Rachel Bartholomew (7)


GAME 2
Inning                         1 2 3 4 5 6 7   -  R   H   E
Pittsburgh (18-28, 3-9)        0 1 0 0 0 1 0   -  2   3   3
PROVIDENCE (30-18-1, 8-8)      0 0 1 5 0 0 x   -  6   12  3


WP	-	PC, Nicole Bartholomew (10-6) - 7 innings
LP	-	Pitt, Meghan Bostick (9-15) - 6 innings
HR	-	PC, Elena Romero (7); Cori Van Dusen (8)