KILEY SOSBY HITS FIRST COLLEGIATE HR, PITCHES BOWLING GREEN TO WIN OVER TOWSON UNIVERSITY
Freshman Kiley Sosby and junior Aspen Searle each homered Sunday afternoon (March 6), propelling the Bowling Green State University softball team to a pair of wins. The Falcons downed Towson University, 7-3, and Morgan State, 6-4, to complete a perfect 3-0 weekend at TU's Tiger Clash.
Sosby picked up the complete-game win in the opener, allowing only one earned run, and her two-run homer tied the contest at 3-3 in the third inning. BG took the lead over Towson on a sacrifice fly in the fifth, and the Falcons scored three times in the sixth.
The opening game saw the Falcons matched up against a Towson team that was 12-3 on the year, and the Tigers had scored 42 runs over the previous three games, including 17 in a Saturday win over MSU. But, Sosby allowed only four hits and a single earned run in improving to 5-3 on the year.
Raker began her Sunday with a two-out single to right-center in the top of the first, but she was stranded there as TU starter Ambar Hickman got a grounder that resulted in a force play at second. Sosby, fresh off of a complete-game win in which she struck out a season-high eight batters on Friday, got both Olivia Yarbrough and Daria Edwards to begin Sunday's game, then induced Shelby Stracher to hit a popup to senior Marina Cobbs in shallow right.

The Falcons, with a little help from the Tigers, manufactured a run with two outs in the second. SophomoreMorgan Evangelista, who was 3-for-6 in Sunday's two games, reached on an error by the TU shortstop. Classmate Katee Hinkle hit a slow roller to short, and TU's Brook Miko had no chance to get Evangelista, who was running on the pitch with two outs. Miko fielded the ball and fired to first, but the throw was not in time to get Hinkle, and BG had two runners aboard.

Then, senior Molly Holliday lined an opposite-field single over the head of the TU third baseman to load the bases. Cobbs came to the plate and drew a walk on four pitches, with Evangelista trotting home to give BG a 1-0 lead. Hickman bounced back to get a strikeout for the third out.

In the bottom of the inning, though, the hosts took the lead, also with the benefit of a two-out error. Towson's first run came with no outs, as Holiday Cahill led off with a double, and came home when Miko followed with a two-base hit of her own. A bunt by Courtney Johnson moved Miko to third, and Nicole Stockinger walked on a 3-2 pitch to put runners at the corners. On a delayed double-steal attempt, Stockinger took second as the Falcons cut off the throw to keep Miko at third base. Sosby whiffed Bailey on three pitches, but Kendyl Scott's fly ball to left was dropped, scoring both runners to give TU a 3-1 lead. Sosby struck out Yarbrough for the second time in as many innings, but the hosts were ahead by two.

In the third, however, the Falcons tied the score. Again, an error was involved. Senior Marisa Shook reached on a one-out error as her fly ball hit the ground in shallow center. Hickman got a popup for the second out, but Sosby crushed an 0-1 pitch well over the left-field fence. The homer, the first of Sosby's young collegiate career, tied the score at 3-3.

Sosby struck out the first two batters of the home half of the third, giving her six K's among the first eight outs. Cahill's fly ball landed just in front of the charging Holliday in center, but Sosby got Miko to hit a fly ball to Shook in left for the third out.

Both teams went in order in the fourth, with Sosby getting Johnson to strike out on three pitches to begin the bottom of the frame. Hinkle charged a slow roller by Stockinger and quickly whipped the ball to junior Haley Schrock at first base for the second out, and Raker gloved Boyd's foul pop on the left side of the infield.

In the Falcon fifth, TU second baseman Boyd made a nice running catch of a Searle popup in foul ground. But, Raker ripped a single through the left side of the infield, and went to third when Shook smashed a ball past third baseman Edwards and down the left-field line for a double. Schrock lifted a fly ball to center, which was caught for the second out of the inning, but Raker tagged and scored what would prove to be the winning run.

In the bottom of the inning, the Tigers went down in order. Sosby got two lazy popups, sandwiched around a grounder to the left side of the circle in which the freshman hurler went to her right, backhanded the ball and fired to first to get Yarbrough by a whisker.

BG broke the game open in the sixth, with six hits in that half-inning alone. Evangelista lined a ball right back up the middle and into center field, and pinch-runner Alex Sorgi advanced on a bunt by Hinkle. Stracher fielded that bunt, but Hinkle reached when the Tigers' catcher was bumped by a charging infielder and could not get a throw away. Meanwhile, Sorgi alertly took an extra base when she noticed that no one was covering third, and in the Tigers' unsuccessful scramble to get Sorgi, Hinkle advanced to second.

Believe it or not, after Hinkle reached second after a bunt, Holliday laid down a bunt and wound up at third base on the play. A squeeze play resulted in Sorgi beating the throw home, while Hinkle took third. Holliday rounded first and continued toward second in an attempt to draw a throw. The Tigers indeed did throw down to second, and the ball was cut off, but Hinkle beat the return throw home. And, Holliday just kept running, making it all the way to third as she beat the throw to the hot corner. Two runs scored on the play, and the Falcons' lead was 6-3.

Hickman got a foul pop for the inning's first out, but Searle blooped a ball to shallow right that landed between three fielders as Holliday came home with the Falcons' seventh run.

Searle's hit chased Hickman from the game, and reliever Megan Dejter faced BG's hottest hitter. Raker worked the count to 3-0, saw the TU sophomoer throw two striket to make the count full, then lined a base hit that put Searle at second. Shook's grounder to the left side saw Searle tagged out, leaving runners at first and second with two down, but Schrock lined a single to left. The ball was hit so hard, however, that Raker was forced to stop at third as the leftfielder quickly came up with the ball. With the bases loaded, Dejter was able to get a grounder to second that retired the side.

Sosby retired the side in order in the home half of the sixth, and BG sent just three batters to the plate in the top of the seventh. That inning, however, saw Evangelista hit by a pitch, before Hinkle hit a ball to deep right-center, forcing centerfielder Scott to make a nice running catch at the wall. Holliday then lined a ball to third, but Edwards was able to grab it and double Evangelista off first.

In the bottom of the inning, Stockinger doubled with one out, ending a string of 11 consecutive batters retired by Sosby, but Boyd popped up to Raker on the next pitch, and Scott hit a grounder to Raker, who fired to Schrock for the final out.

Raker was 3-for-4 at the plate, leading a BG attack that saw eight different Falcons record at least one hit. The bottom two hitters in the batting order, Hinkle and Holliday, each went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Cahill had two of Towson's four hits.

Sosby, as mentioned, allowed four hits and just one earned run. She threw 52 of her 83 pitches for strikes, walking one batter and striking out seven.

OUTSTANDING EGGENS (USF)
The freshman pitcher out of Vienna, Ohio has put on a show the last few outings, and is the only undefeated pitcher on the Bulls staff. In a start against UNLV, Eggens needed just 60 pitches (49 for strikes) for a complete game (5 innings) win. When put into perspective that striking out the side takes at minimum nine pitches, her average of 12 pitches per inning is pretty impressive. Eggens has given up just five walks to go with 16 strikeouts in 30.1 innings of work. She has thrown two complete games (both five innings) and made 10 appearances for a 2.54 ERA.


MARISSA DEMATTEO COLLECTS FIRST COLLEGIATE HIT AS PITT CRUSHES GEORGETOWN
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of Pittsburgh softball team split on the first day of the Dolphin Invitational in Jacksonville, Fla. after dominating Georgetown, but dropping a heart-breaker to host Jacksonville in extra innings.
The Panthers (5-2) got off to a hot start in the Sunshine State as the squad produced three home runs, 16 hits and 21 runs in the first game versus the Hoyas (1-4). Pitt’s bats cooled off in the game two of the day, as the team was no-hit by the Dolphins (4-4).
“We weren't looking for a split today, but we didn't make the adjustments that we needed to at the plate against Jacksonville,” said head coach Holly Aprile. “[Victoria] Brown pitched a terrific game.”
Redshirt senior Maggie Sevilla led the way for Pitt with three hits, including a solo home run, a double, and four RBIs. Sevilla’s homer was the 24th of her career, which places her in second place all-time on Pitt’s homerun list.
Sophomores Giorgiana Zeremenko and McKayla Taylor also tallied home runs on the day. Taylor’s counted for her third of the season, while Zeremenko’s grand slam was her second homer of the year. Freshman Alexis Solak also impressed as she went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs on the day.
Defensively, freshman Sarah Dawson and sophomore Kayla Harris each had impressive showings on the mound. Dawson got the job done in five innings against Georgetown and collected her second win as a Panther. Harris struck out seven against Jacksonville and only allowed one unearned run in eight innings pitched.
“Kayla [Harris] was outstanding for us,” Aprile said, “However we didn't give her the run support today. We will bounce back tomorrow. We are a resilient group and a determined group.”

LEXI ZAPITELLI'S FIRST COLLEGIATE HIT SPARKS RALLY AS YOUNGSTOWN STATE WALKS OFF AGAINST TOLEDO
Charlotte, N.C. -- Sarah Dowd belted a two-run walkoff home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Youngstown State to a 4-3 season-opening win over Toledo on Saturday at the UNC-Charlotte First Pitch Classic.
Trailing 3-2, freshman Lexi Zappitelli led off the bottom of the seventh with a pinch-hit single to right field.
Dowd, who went 3-for-3, belted her 19th career home run to lift the Penguins to a 4-3 victory.
Junior Caitlyn Minney tossed a three-hit complete game with five strikeouts to pick up the win.
The Penguins jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on Cali Mikovich's ground out that plated Dowd. Brittney Moffatt scored on the same play after an errant throw.
The Rockets scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 3-2 lead.

KATIE COZY PICKS UP FIRST HIT IN COLLEGIATE DEBUT AS TOLEDO DEFEATS UMASS
Charlotte, NC – Toledo softball team kicked off its 2016 campaign with a doubleheader split on Saturday at the Charlotte First Pitch Classic hosted by the University of Charlotte. UT started its day out with a 5-4 victory over UMass before falling 4-3 to Youngstown State. The Rockets (1-1) are scheduled to play another game on Sunday vs. host Charlotte at 1:30 p.m.
In game one, junior Celeste Fidge went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI. Freshmen Samantha Showalter also recorded a multi-hit performance, while notching the only double. The Rockets pounded out 11 hits and held UMASS to five.
The Rockets plated their first run in the top of the first with an RBI single from Fidge that scored sophomoreAshley Rausch.
UMass broke through against UT starter Marla Gooding (7.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) with four runs in the bottom of the third, two of which came off a double and triple. Toledo responded with two runs in the top of the fourth with an RBI single by Kaitlyn Bergman.
The Minutemen relinquished their lead after four innings. The Rockets added two more runs in the top of the seventh off an RBI single by Maynard. Lemieux advanced to third and scored off of a fielding error, which paved the way for a run scored by junior Chandler Rice.
"We had great two-strike approaches today at the plate and we worked the count well," said head coachKristen Butler. "Our bench did a phenomenal job in both games coming up with clutch hits, stolen bases and defensive lays. The stronger our bench plays, the stronger our team will be."
In the second game, YSU jumped on top with two runs in the first to establish some momentum. The Penguins held their lead until Toledo answered back with two runs of its own in the top of the fifth. Choate singled but advanced to third on a fielding error allowing freshmen Kaitlyn Cozy and Kaitlyn Bergman to score. Choate was able to score on a sacrifice fly by freshmen Danni Ryan.
UT held its lead until the bottom of the seventh when Sarah Dowd hit a homer and managed to bring in Jordan Macy.
Toledo left two runners on base and committed one error against YSU, compared to the nine runners they stranded in game one.
"We need to do a better job of staying locked in from pitch to pitch and moving on to the next play," said Butler. "We were able to get a lot of people in the games today and gave our freshmen some game experience."

MEGAN BROWN COLLECTS TWO HITS (2-3, 2 R, SB) IN COLLEGIATE DEBUT AS SLIPPERY ROCK BEATS MERCY
Myrtle Beach, S.C.- The Slippery Rock University softball team opened the season with a pair of wins before dropping one game at the Snowbird Freeze Out Tournament Friday.
Slippery Rock earned a 10-2 win against Mercy College and a 7-3 victory against Merrimack College before losing a close one to Felician University, 3-2.
Megan Maloney and Ashley Samluk led The Rock (2-1) on the first day of tournament action with six hits apiece across the three games. Samluk had three doubles, one triple and six RBI to lead the team.

GAME ONE: Slippery Rock 10 - Mercy 2
Maloney collected SRU's first hit and first run of the season when she singled and then scored on Samluk's RBI double.
Mercy scored two runs in the top of the 5th, but Samluk smacked another double to score Megan Brown, who singled to start the inning, and Katie Kaiser, who reached base on an error. Stacey Herzog also reached on an error that scored Samluk and gave The Rock a two-run lead, 4-2.
SRU held Mercy in the top of the sixth inning, but recorded seven hits and six runs to eight-run rule the Mavericks and get the win. Lauren Hawley, Allie Fischer, Brown, Maloney and Herzog all recorded singles, while Kaiser belted a 3-RBI homer and Samluck hit an RBI triple to lead The Rock in the final inning.
Carly DeRose earned her first win of the year. She struck out seven and allowed just four hits in her first appearance of the season.

GAME TWO: Slippery Rock 7 - Merrimack 3
SRU jumped Merrimack in the first inning with a five-run lead on six hits. Caitlin Baxter, Kaiser, Samluk, Herzog, and Maloney all collected singles, while Emily Nagle had an RBI triple.
The Warriors picked up a run in the top of the fourth, but The Rock responded in the bottom of the inning with two more runs. Nagle and Samluk each recorded singles and Baxter scored the two on a single that was advanced to second.
Merrimack scored another run in the top of the sixth inning and one more in the seventh, but it was not enough as SRU held on to take game two of the tournament.
Brooke Dawson got the win for The Rock after striking out five.

GAME THREE: Felician 3 - Slippery Rock 2
Felician started game three with two runs in the first inning and one more in the fifth.
Slippery Rock put together four hits and recorded two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Kaiser singled down the right field line and Samluk doubled to right center to score Kaiser. Baxter singled up the middle to send Samluk home. Nagle singled to third base, but SRU left two on base to cut the comeback short.
Dawson took the loss after pitching five complete innings and striking out four.

CALEY RITTS COLLECTS FIRST COLLEGIATE HIT AS MALONE DEFEATS BREVARD COLLEGE
The Malone University softball team opened up their 2016 campaign with an exciting 2-0 victory over Brevard College (NC), while falling 8-0 in the second game on the first day of competition at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach, SC on Sunday afternoon. Head coachKathryn Bzdafka picked up her first win at the helm of the program.
Malone will play against Robert Morris University (IL) at 9:30 a.m. and Ohio Valley University (WV) at 3:30 p.m. on Monday at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. Live statsand live video will be available.

Game One:

It was a battle of the defenses for both Brevard and Malone as the Pioneers gathered five hits while holding the Tornados to only two hits during the first seven innings. With neither team scoring, the game would head into the eighth inning.
Malone really got their rhythm going in the top of the eighth inning as centerfielder Mikayla Fowler singled to center field. On the next play, Fowler would successfully steal second base. Shortstop Alexa Holztrager was next up at the plate and slammed a double into center field, allowing Fowler to score the first run of the game for the Pioneers. Later in the inning, Holztrager would go on to score a run for the Pioneers, giving Malone the 2-0 lead.
The Tornados couldn't convert a run in the bottom of the eighth inning, giving Malone their first victory of the season.
Fowler went 2-for-4 at the plate, while Holztrager also went 2-for-4 at the plate, while adding a RBI and a double.
Senior pitcher Kari Hall played a spectacular game in the circle as she registered a new career high with eight strikeouts in the complete game shutout. This was Malone's first shutout since 2014 and first shutout of more than six innings since 2012.

Game Two:

Brevard scored two runs in the first inning and kept the momentum going for the rest of the game. They went on to score six more runs to seal the 8-0 victory in six innings.
Holztrager went 2-for-3 at the plate and collected a double.
Freshmen Caley Ritts and sophomore Emily Beck both went 1-for-2 at the plate.

CHEYENNE EGGENS COLLECTS FIRST COLLEGIATE WIN AS USF DEFEATS ILLINOIS STATE
TAMPA, FEB. 13, 2016 – Lauren Evans picked the perfect moment to hit her first home run of the season, giving USF its first win of the season over Illinois State Saturday night,.
Down 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth and with two outs on the board, Evans launched a deep home run over the left field wall to plate junior Juli Weber from second base and give USF a 2-1 lead.
The lead would stick as freshman Cheyenne Eggens notched a pair of strikeouts and assisted on a groundout in the top of the seventh to secure her first win as a Bull.
In relief, Eggens pitched three innings of two-hit ball, issuing four strikeouts and no walks. Paired with starting pitcher Erica Nunn, the duo accounted for ten strikeouts on the night.
The Redbirds struck first, plating a run in the third on an Allison Spence RBI single. A pair of groundouts put two outs on the board, but two walks issued by Nunn left two on for Spence. Nunn was able to end the inning with a strikeout to limit the damage to just the one run.
The Bulls broke up ISU’s no-hit bid back in the bottom of the inning with hits from freshman Sam Worrell and junior Kassie Moeller. Worrell, who hit her first career home run on Friday, singled to left field to bring up sophomore Cassidy Boyle. A 4-6-3 double play erased the pair, but Moeller followed with a single to center to keep the inning alive before being caught stealing.
USF put a runner in scoring position in the fifth with a stand-up double by Nunn. The Redbirds turned their second double play of the day, erasing Nunn and keeping USF off the board.
Nunn, the starting pitcher, had a solid outing, allowing just one run on three hits with six strikeouts in four innings of work.
Sarah Finck pitched a complete game for ISU, giving up two runs on four hits and striking out a pair.
USF wraps up the weekend on Sunday, Feb. 14, at 4 p.m. when they take on the defending national champion Florida Gators at the USF Softball Stadium.


KILEY SOSBY, FALCONS SHUT DOWN COLONIALS

BGSU tops Robert Morris, 7-1, for first win of Sarah Willis Era Freshman Kiley Sosby threw a complete game and aided her own cause with a pair of hits as the Bowling Green State University softball team downed Robert Morris University, 7-1, on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 14).
The win, in BGSU's final game in Cleveland State University's Dome Invitational, was the first victory of theSarah Willis head-coaching era.
The Falcons dropped an 8-5 decision to host CSU earlier Sunday inside the Krenzler Dome.
For Sosby, the win was the first of her young collegiate career. It was also her first complete game, and her double during the Falcons' four-run sixth inning was the first hit of her career. She followed that up with a single in the seventh.
In the opener, the Brown and Orange outhit CSU, 9-7, and BG put five runs on the board in the third inning to take a 5-2 lead. But, the Vikings scored four times in the fourth and added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth.
Senior Marisa Shook picked up where she left off on Saturday, with a three-run homer in the CSU game and a double against RMU. Shook has four extra-base hits and five runs batted in through four games, after collecting six hits and one RBI during all of last season.
"Our program showed some great progress and fight this weekend," said Willis. "We had some stellar performances today. Marisa Shook was clutch at the plate, Haley Schrock played a strong third base, andKiley Sosby led us on the mound. We got good contributions from multiple people all weekend long."
In the opener, redshirt sophomore Chelsea Raker laced a two-out double in the top of the first off of CSU starter Macy Kaisk, but was stranded there.
The Vikings, aided by an error, struck first in the bottom of the inning. Susan Knight led off by reaching base on an error, and advanced to third on a double by Katelind Phillips. Then, Erica McNew singled up the middle to plate both runners. Falcon starting pitcher Briana Combs struck out the next batter, then got a grounder back to the circle and began an inning-ending double play.
BGSU scored five runs in the third inning, with all of the damage coming after the first two batters were retired. Five-straight Falcons recorded hits, as senior Marina Cobbs doubled, and classmate Molly Hollidayreached on an infield single. Raker singled up the middle to score Cobbs, with Holliday taking third, and sophomore Kayla Koch singled to left to plate Holliday and tie the score.
Then, Shook homered for the second time in as many days. Her three-run shot to left field scored Raker and Koch ahead of her, and gave the Brown and Orange a 5-2 lead.
Combs, who had retired the side in order in the second, allowed a leadoff single and a two-out walk in the bottom of the third, but worked out of it, getting Mackenzie Joecken to hit a soft fly ball that shortstop Raker grabbed for the third out.
In the fourth, though, the home team retook the lead with four runs. The first two CSU batters walked, and a pair of pinch-runners moved up on a wild pitch, putting two Vikings in scoring position with no outs. Combs hit the next batter, Riley Ries, to load the bases. Combs got the next batter, Mel Woodard, to hit a grounder to junior Haley Schrock at third, Schrock fired the ball to catcher Trista Mokienko, retiring pinch-runner Kait Gairing for the first out. But, Alisha Silva reached on an infield error, with pinch-runner Bailee Gray scoring to cut BG's lead to two runs.
Then, Knight's infield single made it a one-run game, as Ries advanced home. A fly ball to left by Phillips produced the second out, but Woodard tagged and scored to tie the game, and a wild pitch scored Silva to give the hosts a 6-5 lead. Combs whiffed Joecken for the third out.
Holliday singled to begin the fifth, and Koch drew a two-out walk, but a fielder's choice, a caught stealing and a strikeout kept the Falcons off the scoreboard.
Freshman Brooke Parker, who threw two scoreless innings in her collegiate debut on Saturday, replaced Combs in the circle in the bottom of the fifth. She got the first two batters to pop up to short and second, respectively, before Ries flied out to center to end the one-two-three inning.
The top of the sixth saw Mokienko single with two outs, but she was stranded there. The Vikings added to their lead in the bottom of the inning, as Woodard's leadoff double was followed by back-to-back infield singles to produce a run. One out later, McNew's groundout to second scored Silva to make it an 8-5 game.
In the top of the seventh, Raker reached on a two-out error, and wound up at third after a passed ball, but Kaisk got a grounder to second for the final out.
The top-five hitters in the BG batting order combined for seven of the team's nine hits. Both Holliday and Raker were 2-for-4 with a run scored. Knight and Silva each had two hits for the Vikings, with Silva scoring twice and Knight driving in a pair of runs.
Shook and McNew each had three RBI for their respective teams.
Kaisk picked up the complete-game win in the circle. She allowed five runs and nine hits, walking one batter and striking out five. Combs took the loss, surrendering six runs (just two earned) in four innings of work. Parker gave up two runs in two innings of relief.
In game two, the Falcons were retired in order in the top of the first inning against Robert Morris starter Lacee Collins, with Raker hitting a liner to second base for the third out. In the bottom of the first, Jordan Gurganus worked Sosby for a leadoff walk, but the freshman hurler got Kristen Pray to hit a pop up that hit the roof over the infield, an automatic out. Sosby struck out Ashley Gerhart for the second out, but Kristen Gabelt's infield single put a pair of runners aboard. On Gabelt's hit, Schrock made a nifty diving stop of the one-hopper, but had no play. But, Sosby fanned Lauren Hackett to retire the side.
BGSU again went one-two-three in the second, but Sosby struck out two more Colonials, allowing only a harmless two-out walk, in the bottom of the frame.
Schrock hit a 3-2 pitch into the left-field corner for a leadoff double in the third inning. Sosby struck out, but Schrock advanced to third as the ball got away from RMU catcher Hackett, and she had to throw to first for the out. Collins got a second-straight strikeout, however, and a grounder back to the circle retired the side.
Gurganus reached base for the second consecutive time, beating out a slow roller to the left side of the infield to start the home half of the third. Pray bunted her to second, but Sosby got Gerhart to hit a grounder back to the circle, throwing to first for the second out as Gurganus was forced to remain at second. Then, Gabelt's infield popup retired the side.
Raker was hit by a Collins pitch with one out in the fourth, and pinch-runner Alex Sorgi advanced to second on a wild pitch. Several pitches later, Koch walked to put two runners aboard, and Shook – with two homers and a double on the weekend – was walked on four pitches to load the bases. Sophomore Morgan Evangelista's bouncer over the pitcher's head was grabbed by the shortstop, who threw to first for the out. But, Sorgi crossed the plate with the game's first run, with the other two runners taking second and third.
Schrock lifted a fly ball to left that would have cleared the wall, but caromed off of the roof and eluded the grasp of the RMU leftfielder. When the smoke had cleared, both Koch and Shook had scored and Schrock was standing on second. She took third on a wild pitch, but Collins got an inning-ending grounder.
Hackett, however, led off the bottom of the inning with a solo homer, and Haleigh Stocks reached on an infield error. But, Sosby got Stacey Capp to hit a liner to third for the first out, and Olivia Lorusso popped up for the second out. Sosby proceeded to strike out pinch-hitter Taylor Bartlow to retire the side.
Sophomore Katee Hinkle walked to begin the fifth, and Cobbs beat out a roller to the right side. Holliday bunted the runners to second and third, but Collins got a strikeout for the second out. Then, Koch hit a ball off of the roof of the dome near second base, which was ruled the third out per the tournament's ground rules.
Gurganus led off the bottom of the inning with a sharp single to left, but Pray's sinking liner was grabbed by a diving Shook in left field. Gerhart, however, reached on an infield hit, as Gurganus beat the throw to second. And, Gabelt's single loaded the bases with one out. Hackett lined out to left, with Shook charging in to grab the ball for the second out. Then, Sosby got Stocks to hit an inning-ending grounder to end the threat. Schrock charged in, grabbed the ball and threw to first to beat Stocks by a step.
The Falcons, held to three hits through the first five innings, exploded for five hits – and four runs – in the sixth.
Shook began the sixth by lining a Collins pitch into the gap in left-center, for her fourth extra-base hit in as many games. Shortstop Capp made a nice play on an Evangelista grounder, backhanding the ball and looking Shook back to second before firing to first. Schrock, however, singled up the middle to put runners at the corners, and Sosby aided her own cause by lining a double to the wall in left-center, scoring Shook for a three-run lead. Schrock took third on the play, and she scored when Hinkle reached on a bunt single. Hinkle continued to second on an error, with Sosby advancing to third on the play.
Cobbs lined to short for the second out, but Holliday singled, and both Sosby and Hinkle scored on the play, making it a 7-1 game.
Sosby got back-to-back infield popups, then struck out Collins for a one-two-three sixth frame.
Shook walked to begin the seventh, but Evangelista's liner was caught by the leftfielder and Shook was retired at second on a fielder's-choice grounder by Schrock. Sosby singled up the middle for her second career hit, and her second in as many innings, with Schrock advancing to second. But, Collins induced the next hitter to ground out, sending the game to the bottom of the seventh.
Sosby got Gurganus to ground out to Raker at shortstop for the first out. Pray singled, and took second when the throw was wide of the mark and went out of play. But, Gerhart hit a fly ball to left for the second out. Gabelt extended the game with a single to put runners at the corners, but Hackett's liner was snared by Schrock, and the Falcons had the victory.
Schrock had three of the Falcons' nine hits, including a pair of doubles, while Sosby had the first two hits of her career. Shook was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and two runs scored, while both Schrock and Holliday drove in a pair of teammates.
Gabelt had three hits for the Colonials, while Gurganus had two hits and a walk.
Sosby scattered eight hits in her complete-game win, walking a pair of batters and striking out six. Collins took the loss, giving up seven runs (six earned). She issued five walks and struck out six hitters.
"We had an opportunity to win every game this weekend, and we will build on that," said Willis. "Our team has faith in the process and we will continue to work hard as we prepare for next weekend at Kennesaw State."
The Falcons head to Kennesaw, Ga., to play four games in next weekend's Rafter Memorial Tournament. BGSU will face Rutgers and Kennesaw State on Friday (Feb. 19), Morehead State on Saturday (Feb. 20) and Bradley on Sunday morning (Feb. 21).


MACY COOK COLLECTS FIRST COLLEGIATE HIT AS WRIGHT STATE DEFEATS PENN STATE
The Wright State softball team opened its season Friday with a split at the Kick Off Classic in Boca Raton, Florida, defeating Penn State 2-0 before falling just short in a 2-1 setback to Tulsa.
All of the scoring in the Penn State contest came in the bottom of the fourth as the Raiders pushed across a pair of runs. With one out, Macey Gunther doubled to left and went to third in a hit to center off the ba of Libby Pfeffer. A wild pitch allowed Gunther to score the first run and after a Becka Peterson walk and a Macy Cook infield hit loaded the bases, Pfeffer came in on a sacrifice fly by Honnah Susor.
Ashley Sharp took it from there as the sophomore pitcher scattered six Nittany Lions and three walks in throwing the shutout, striking out two. Penn State left at least one runner on base in every inning and stranded two in the first and fifth.
In the second game of the day, Tulsa scored two quick runs in the first against WSU starter Ally Russell, but the freshman settled down from there, allowing just four hits and a walk the rest of the way in shutting out the Golden Hurricane.
The Raiders, though, couldn't find any offense against Tulsa starter Emily Watson until putting together a rally in the seventh. With one out, Ashton Salyers reached on an error and scored a batter later as Russell doubled to right. Wright State then loaded the bases with two outs on a Hanna Floyd infield single and a walk by Gunther, but a ground out ended the game.
Floyd and Gunther each had two hits in the second game for Wright State (1-1), who continues tournament play Saturday with two more games, taking on Hofstra at 1:30 followed by host Florida Atlantic at 6:00.

AROUND THE DIAMOND WITH MARISSA DEMATTEO

A weekly Q&A with a member of the 2015-16 Pitt softball team.
Jan. 20, 2016
Name: Marissa DeMatteo
Class: Freshman
Position: Outfield
Major: Rehab Science

1. If you could pick any super power what would it be?
I would pick super speed so I could run around the bases a little quicker!

2. Where would you go if you had a time machine?
I would go back to when I was a little girl – no stress and no worries.

3. If you could pick another position to play what would it be?
I would pick catcher. They really get a lot of action and have a chance to build a really unique relationship with the pitcher.

4. What song best describes you?
Days Go By – Keith Urban. It feels like the older and older I get, the faster these days go by.

5. What animal best represents you?
I would say a dog—I’m loyal to the ones around me and I’m such a homebody! (Sometimes I even beg for food…)

6. If you could master one skill you don’t have right now, what would it be?
Juggling!! One day I’ll get it. One day...

7. Who’s your personal hero?
My mom.

8. If you could bring one fictional character to life, who would it be?
Cinderella's godmother – she would grant my every wish!

9. Would you rather explore a new planet, or the deepest parts of the ocean?
The deepest parts of the ocean. There is so much down there that would be fascinating to actually see in person! (Maybe even some buried treasure from the Titanic or something.)

10. In what ways are you the same as your childhood self?
Still a little tomboy at heart! Love my sports!