LAKEWOOD, NJ- The Georgian Court University softball squad evened its record vs. CACC opponents at 4-4 and improved to 15-13 as the Lions cruised to a doubleheader sweep over visiting Chestnut Hill College, 4-1 and 13-0 (5 innings).
GAME ONE
The Griffins (1-9, 1-7 CACC) jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when 1B Giana Cavallo drilled a double to left-center field, plating Sarah Mattaliano after the Chestnut Hill left-fielder reached on a fielder's choice to second base.
Georgian Court immediately answered in the home half of the first when C Christina Masitti lined a double of her own to right-center, advanced to third on a Rachel Ruch fly ball to center, and then scored on a Chestnut Hill wild pitch.
Chestnut Hill starting pitcher Mandi Rush worked out of a major jam in the bottom of the fourth when the Lions set the table with a bases-loaded and no outs, but were unable to push the go-ahead tally across.
GCU finally lit up the dormant scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run, two-out triple down the right field line from LF Alyssa Paradiso, which popped out of the glove of a diving Cassie Benson. The hit brought in 3B Kelsey Cutler, who reached on a single to left, and SS Ashlynn Thompson, after she reached on a dropped liner to the Chestnut Hill second baseman. Paradiso then trotted home with an insurance run on a dropped ball in left field off the bat of 1B Jen Tartaglia, making the score 4-1.
Brooke Hull improves to 9-8 in the circle for the Lions, yielding just the lone run while scattering three hits and two walks. The senior hurler also struck out four in the effort.
Rush falls to 0-5 on the season for the Griffins, permitting four runs (1 ER) on six hits and zero walks to go along with two strikeouts.
Paradiso (3B, 2 RBI) and Cutler (1 R) went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Lions.
GAME TWO
Georgian Court took the first lead in the nightcap with a three-spot, courtesy of a Ruch RBI double to right, a Cutler ribbie triple to left, and a Selina Santillo (RF) run-scoring single up the middle.
The Griffins looked to counter in the top of the second inning with three consecutive two-out singles off Hull, but to no avail.
The Lions blew the contest open in the bottom of the second when the home team increased its lead to 7-0 on a RBI double to center from Masitti, which brought home CF Dara Schroeder after she reached on a two-hit bunt single and advanced to second with her second stolen base of the afternoon and CACC-leading 20th of the year. Masitti would then come in on a Ruch triple to right, followed by a RBI single to left by Hull, and Cutler's second three-bagger of the day.
The Lions hammered home the proverbial nail in the coffin in the bottom of the third as they tacked on another six runs on six hits to make it the eventual final score of 13-0.
Hull (10-8) earned a win in both ends of a twin-bill just as she did in Saturday's sweep of Post University, allowing three hits while striking out three in two innings. Illiana Teran fired three no-hit innings of relief, permitting two walks and striking out one, as she earned her first save of the season.
Rush dropped to 0-6 for Chestnut Hill (4.0 IP, 15 H, 13 R, 13 ER, 1 BB, 1 K).
Hull went 2-for-3 with a run scored and game-high four RBI. Ruch had a perfect performance at the plate, going 2-for-2 with three RBI and three runs scored to go along with her double and triple.
Cutler also went 2-for-2 with her first two triples of the season, complemented by her two RBI and run scored. Schroeder was her typical pesky self atop the GCU lineup with her 3-for-4 effort and three runs scored. Santillo clubbed two hits and tallied two RBI in the game.
Masitti (1-for-3) contributed an RBI and two runs scored while Tartaglia went 1-for-2 with a run and RBI.
GCU gets right back at it Wednesday afternoon with a non-conference home double-dip with Millersville University. Start time is 2:30 PM,
