Ong, Johnson, Kuretich All Have Two Hits On Day
DELAND, Fla. – The Yale softball team did a number of
things well on the second day of the Stetson Classic. The Bulldogs
hit their first home run of the season and played excellent
defense, including throwing two runners out at the plate. In the
end, though, two big innings by their opponents proved too much to
overcome. UConn scored four times in the first inning and hung on
for a 5-3 win, and Stetson scored four runs in the second inning en
route to an 8-1 victory.
Against UConn, Meg Johnson had two hits and an RBI, and freshman
Christy Nelson belted her first career home run. In addition, Liz
Tutino knocked in a run, and Kayla Kuretich had two hits.
Mariclaire Rebman, who made the start in the circle for the
Bulldogs, settled down nicely after the rough first inning. She
yielded only four hits and one run over the next four innings
before being relieved by Kuretich, who tossed a scoreless sixth
inning.
Yale got on the board in the third with a two-out rally. Ashley
Sloan started it with a bunt single. After Jennifer Ong reached on
an error, Johnson delivered a clutch, RBI single.
Leftfielder Virginia Waldrop helped thwart a UConn rally in the
bottom of the third when she threw out Justyne Roy at the plate
trying to score from second on Jessica Arremony's single.
Catcher Lexi Peacock handled Waldrop's throw and applied the
tag.
Trailing 5-1, the Bulldogs got one back in the sixth. Johnson
led off with a double and scored when Tutino singled to right.
Nelson pulled Yale within 5-3 when she led off the seventh
inning with a long homer to left field.
Tricia Sullivan pitched all seven innings for UConn, scattering
seven hits and striking out six.
After beating Stetson later in the day, the Huskies are 6-9
overall.
Freshman Jackie Manzer drew the start in Yale's second
game of the day against Stetson. She went four innings and allowed
only one earned run. Manzer benefitted from some fine defense in
the first inning when leftfielder Allie Canulli threw out Chelsey
Tratto trying to score from second on Katie Lawrence's
single. This time it was catcher McKynlee Westman who took the
throw, blocked the plate and applied the tag.
The Bulldogs (0-4) scored their run in the third. Westman
singled and moved to second on Chelsey Locarno's sacrifice
bunt. Ong followed with a sharp single to right that scored
Westman.
Yale had opportunities to get back in the game but left seven
runners on base in the game.
Trotto knocked in four runs and Jill Semento and Amanda Lindsey
homered for the Hatters (14-11).
Yale and Stetson will meet again in a single game on Monday at 5
p.m.
Photo of McKynlee Westman by Ken Yanagisawa
Report filed by Tim Bennett, Yale Sports Publicity
