PITTSBURGH (April 14, 2010) – The Thiel College softball team, led by a game two gem from the mound by Kristen Moreland (Dover, Ohio/Dover), split their Wednesday doubleheader against the Chatham University Cougars, dropping game one, 3-4, and winning game two, 1-0.
Moreland delivered a masterpiece from the mound in game two, throwing her first shutout of the season, while allowing just five hits.
The Dover, Ohio native capped off her master stroke by retiring the last eight batters she faced, setting the table for Tomcat senior, Amber Cree (Conneaut Lake, PA/Conneaut Lake), to score the go ahead, and game winning, run of the contest in the bottom of the sixth.
Moreland has been virtually untouchable in her last few outings, giving up zero earned runs over her last 14 innings pitched, and allowing a mere three earned runs over her last 26.
In game one, junior pitcher, Emily Batiz (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg Area), continued her dominant ways through the first two innings, retiring the first six batters she faced. But, in the third inning, the Cougars got the best of the Leechburg lefty, tallying three runs on four hits, led by a Catherine Monceaux single that knocked in two runs.
In the fifth inning, the Tomcats would battle back when Elise Moore (Apollo, PA/Kiski) and Becky Betteridge (Conneaut, Ohio/Conneaut) notched an RBI apiece, while junior catcher, Melissa Rankin (Scenery Hill, Pa./Bentworth), hit an RBI double in the sixth to knot the score at three runs.
Chatham regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth, however, when Monceaux crossed home plate on a Thiel College error, putting the Cougars up by one heading into the top of the seventh.
The seventh saw Betteridge get things going for the Tomcats with a leadoff double to put the tying run in scoring position, and later, the sophomore shortstop stole third base. The women of Thiel couldn't take advantage of the runner, however, stranding Betteridge on third and sealing the game one defeat.
In the losing effort, Batiz went six innings, allowing three earned runs on nine hits, while striking out three batters.
Next, Thiel College will return to the friendly confines of Tomcat Park to face the Presidents of Washington and Jefferson College on Saturday, April 17 for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
