The Rams (1-1) got their first win of the season Saturday afternoon after defeating the Griffins (0-2) of Seton Hill by a score of 7-5. This was the Rams’ second game of the day in the UNG Captain D’s Classic.
Shortstop Christiana Skrabak belted a home-run to left center in the first inning that put the Griffins ahead 1-0.
Sophomore second baseman/shortstop Morgan Cox responded with a solo-shot home-run of her own down the left field line that tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning.
The Rams regained the lead in the fourth inning when Kaitlyn Konopka hit a sacrifice fly to left field with the bases loaded that allowed all runners to advance, including Cox, who scored her second run of the day to give the Rams 2-1 lead.
Needing to cool the Rams’ momentum, the Griffins stayed calm and scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. A triple by utility player Abbie Thrower to right field gave more than enough time for teammates Skrabak and outfielder Ashley Boehm to round the bases and give the Griffins the lead back with a 3-2 score.
An RBI single by pitcher Amanda Huff of the Griffins continued the scoring spree as she brought in outfielder Allison Kapoll to augment the lead to 4-2.
After a an RBI single by sophomore first/third baseman Connor Gillgan of the Rams that drove home senior third/first baseman Alexandra Witt to cut the deficit to 4-3 in the fifth, Skrabak of the Griffins of the Rams had to come up with another answer. She responded cool under pressure with a solo-blast to right center field that stretched the lead to 5-3 in favor of the Griffins.
From here on out though, the Rams would go on to score the game’s final four runs to secure the 7-5 victory.
Freshman infielder Debbie Stuart of the Rams reached first base after an error by the Griffins’ right fielder, and actually reached all the way to third base as the result of the error. During this massive fielding error, freshman utility player Bailee Jackson sprinted home, along with Konopka. This tied the game at 5-5 in the sixth inning.
Still in the sixth inning, Witt stepped up to the plate and delivered with a clutch RBI single through the left side that brought in Stuart to give the Rams a 6-5 lead.
Cox added on another run in the seventh inning for the Rams, launching a single to left field that gave enough time for Gilligan to come in and score.
The two errors Seton Hill committed really led to their downfall, in a game perhaps they should have won.
Executing off of the errors, the Rams performed well when they needed it most.
Sophomore starting pitcher Lori Sturgill of the Rams took home the win. She went four innings, gave up five runs on seven hits, walked one, and struck out two.
Kaitlyn Munda, who pitched earlier in the day, closed out the game with pitching three innings, allowing two hits, walking one, striking out two, and most importantly, not allowing a run.
Cox’s two RBIs and two runs scored really were the foundations of the Rams’ win.
On Sunday, the Rams continue their tournament action when they face Seton Hill again at 10 a.m. and the University of North Georgia again at noon.
Anthony Bracken is the Sports Editor of The Picket. He can be reached at abrack02@rams.shepherd.edu