Dartmouth Softball Sweeps First Ivy League Doubleheader of the Season

Monday, April 7

Hanover, N.H.

2:00 PM

Dartmouth College

COLUMBIA

Dartmouth Softball Sweeps First Ivy League Doubleheader of the Season

4/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball

By: Dartmouth

Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore

HANOVER, N.H. - A bases loaded walk in Game One gave the Dartmouth softball team a 5-4 win over Columbia on Monday at Sachem Field while a double by Alyssa Parker (Spring Valley, Calif.) in the bottom of fifth inning of the nightcap helped the Big Green to a 2-0 win and the sweep.

In the opening game the Lions took an early 2-0 lead after three base hits in the first. A home run by Ciji Rich in the top of the third gave the visitors a 3-0 cushion. But Dartmouth came right back with two runs in its bottom half of the inning.

Christy Autin (Harwood Heights, Ill.) started things off with a one-out infield single before the Big Green had runners at first and second after Katie Chifcian (Fullerton, Calif.) was hit by a pitch. A single through the left side by Parker plated both Autin and Chifcian as Dartmouth was just a run away from a tie game.

The Big Green broke through in the bottom of the fifth. A one-out single by Chifcian followed by another hit by pitch to Audrey Kolodziej (Morton Grove, Ill.) gave Dartmouth two runners to start the frame. An error by Columbia with Parker at the plate put runners on the corners as Chifcian scored. Leigha Clarkson (Perris, Calif.) then singled up the middle but Kolodziej was thrown out trying to come home. A ground out by J.J. Wright (Colleyville, Texas) moved the runners over before a single up the middle by Sarah Bankoff (Lynnfield, Mass.) scored Parker as Dartmouth took a 4-3 lead.

Unfortunately two errors and a wild pitch by the Big Green in the top of the sixth gave the Lions the tying run as the two teams headed to the seventh tied at 4-4. Kolodziej started things off with a single through the left side and then moved to second on a wild pitch. Parker walked and Clarkson singled to load the bases. A fielders' choice got Kolodziej at home before a walk was issued to Bankoff as Parker walked home the winning run.

For the game Clarkson led the Big Green, going 3-for-4 while Kirsten Costello (Windsor, N.Y.) was 2-for-3. Both Rich and Maggie Johnson had two hits for the Lions as Columbia had six hits on the day and Dartmouth had 10. In the circle, Angela Megaw (Bomoseen, Vt.) got the win, going the complete game with three earned runs and five strikeouts. Maggie Johnson began the game for Columbia going 4.2 innings with one strikeout and four earned runs. Aimee Kemp came on in relief going 1.2 innings and two walks.

Columbia again got things started quickly in Game Two as the Lions had two singles, a walk and an error through the first three innings allowing runners to reach base. But Stephanie Trudeau (Spokane, Wash.) in the circle for Dartmouth kept her team in it as she struck out five Columbia batters to keep the visitors scoreless. The Lions threatened in the top of the fifth with a one-out single up the middle and then an infield bunt put runners at first and second but a flyout and groundout ended the inning for the Lions.

The Big Green took the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Autin was hit by a pitch and then moved to second on a two-out single by Kolodziej. With the two on, a double by Parker gave Dartmouth its first league sweep of the season as the Big Green snapped a seven-game losing streak.

Kolodziej was tops for her team with two hits and one run while Chantee Dempsey was the leader for Columbia, going 2-for-4. Trudeau went the complete game for the BIg Green earning her second win of the season. She struck out seven on the day with her first complete game shutout of the season. Deanna Minuto went the complete game for the Lions with three strikeouts and one walk.

Dartmouth continues with league play as the Big Green travels to Cornell on Wednesday for a doubleheader against the Big Red. The game was originally scheduled for March 30 but was postponed due to inclement weather.