May 1, 2004

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Senior pitcher Cori Van Dusen (Riverside, Calif.) hit game-winning home runs in both games of a double header as the Providence College softball team defeated Connecticut, 3-2 and 3-1, in BIG EAST action on Saturday, May 1 at Raymond Field. With the two wins the Friars extended their winning streak to a season-high seven games and in the process jumped into third-place in the BIG EAST standings. Providence (34-18-1, 10-8 BIG EAST) has achieved their highest overall win total and league win total since 1995.

In game one, Providence took a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Van Dusen led off the inning with a base hit and eventually moved to third on a double down the left field line by junior Kalena Petersen (Mission Viejo, Calif.). Senior Chrissy Iannolo (Syracuse, N.Y.) then jumped on the first pitch of her at bat and belted a double to right center to drive in two runs. The Friars increased their lead to 3-0 in the fifth when Van Dusen hit her ninth home run of the season, which proved to be the game-winning run. Van Dusen batted a combined 3-for-4 with four RBI in the double header.

On the mound, Van Dusen cruised through the first six innings, allowing no runs on three hits. However, in the seventh inning the Huskies rallied. Suzy de Bary hit a one out home run to cut the lead to 3-1. UConn then loaded the bases and Ashleigh Campen hit a single to drive in another run as the Huskies had five hits in the inning. However, Van Dusen struck out Jessica Quan to end the game and earned her career high 15th win of the season. She allowed two runs on eight hits and struck out three batters. Jessica Gurney took the loss as she pitched six innings, allowed three runs on five hits and posted three batters.

Van Dusen accounted for all three Friar runs in the second game as she belted a second-inning three-run home run to give the Friars a 3-1 lead. Sophomore Elena Romero (Chula Vista, Calif.) and freshman Rachel Bartholomew (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) also scored on the home run as they each singled earlier in the inning. Van Dusen's 10th home run marked the 19th of her career, which is a PC record. UConn scored in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. Maggie Arbogast's single to center field drove in Campen, who led off the game with a double.

Van Dusen started the second game and pitched one inning and junior Nicole Bartholomew (Rancho Santa, Margarita) earned the victory as she picthed six innings, allowed no runs on four hits and struck out three batters. For the Huskies, Michelle Caouette pitched six innings and allowed three runs on just three hits and struck out seven batters.

The Friars will complete the regular season on Sunday, May 2 with a double header versus Boston College beginning at noon at PC's Raymond Field.

Saturday, May 1, 2004
vs. UConn - Providence, R.I.

GAME 1
Inning                         1 2 3 4 5 6 7   -  R   H   E
UConn (23-22, 6-11)            0 0 0 0 0 1 0   -  2   8   0
PROVIDENCE (33-18-1, 9-8)      0 0 2 0 1 0 x   -  3   5   0


WP	-	PC, Cori Van Dusen (15-9) - 7 innings
LP	-	UConn, Jessica Gurney (15-12) - 6 innings
HR	-	PC, Cori Van Dusen (9)


GAME 2
Inning                         1 2 3 4 5 6 7   -  R   H   E
UConn (23-23, 6-12)            1 0 0 0 0 0 0   -  1   6   0
PROVIDENCE (34-18-1, 10-8)     0 3 0 0 0 0 x   -  3   3   0


WP	-	PC, Nicole Bartholomew (11-6) - 6 innings
LP	-	UConn, Michelle Cauoette (4-10) - 6 innings
HR	-	PC, Cori Van Dusen (10)