May 7, 2006
Box Score
FAIRFIELD, CT (May 7, 2006) - Robert Morris sophomore pitcher Brenna Reed picked up a pair of wins on the mound to lead the Colonials to a Northeast Conference double header sweep, 4-0 and 3-2, over Sacred Heart University Sunday afternoon in Fairfield. Reed went the distance for the shutout in game one and came on in relief in game two to earn the double dip and improve her team to 24-17 overall and 17-3 in the Northeast Conference. The Pioneers wrap up the season with a 14-34 overall mark and a 6-12 record in the league.
Reed allowed just three hits in game one and despite walking five, thwarted every SHU rally as the Pioneers stranded six runners. The Colonials jumped on the Pioneers early, touching up SHU starter Chrissy DeMott (Levittown, NY) for a run in the first. Leadoff batter Jill Spargo drew a walk and was sacrificed over to second. After a line out to left, senior Kali Byers belted one back through the box to plate Spargo for the 1-0 lead.
Robert Morris struck again in the third, scoring three on three hits and a SHU throwing error. Spargo once again got the Colonials started, beating out a ball to second base. After a fielder choice landed runners on first and second, thirdbaseman Keri Meyer down the sacrifice but Jacqui Riley's (Burlington, MA) throw hit Meyer up the line, scoring Spargo and putting Colonials on the corners.
A walk to Byers loaded the bases and catcher Jill Dorsch delivered with a single up the middle to plate the Colonials third run. First baseman Ashlee Smith followed to with a single to right and Robert Morris went up 4-0.
The Pioneers threatened in the bottom of the inning on an Ashley McDonough (Lompoc, CA) walk and single by Megan Spehar (Thousand Oaks, CA). Both runners moved up on a groundout by Amanda Bradley but Reed ended the threat by striking out Betsy Harvey (Unionville, CT) looking to end the inning. Reed coasted from there, allowing just one hit over the final four frames to collect her 10th win of the year. Dorsch finished 3-for-4 with a run batted in while Smith finished 2-for-4 with a double and an rbi.
Sacred Heart struck first in Game 2, tacking a run on the board in the bottom of the first. McDonough led the Pioneers off with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Harvey delivered two batters later, lofting a long sacrifice fly to center field to plate the freshman catcher.
Robert Morris answered with a pair in the top of the third as Meyer delivered a two-rbi single to center with two on and one out. The Pioneers tied it up at 2-2 in the bottom half of the inning as singles by Jazzeline Perez (Medford, NY) and McDonough led of the inning. Spehar followed with a sharp single down the left field line to send Perez home but McDonough got cut down trying to go to third on the play. Spehar's hit chased starter Stacy Davidson as the Colonials went to Reed to stop the bleeding.
The junior right hander gave up an infield single to the next batter but worked out of the jam with a pair of groundouts to keep the game tied at 2-2. After a scoreless fourth, the Colonials jumped in front for good in the fifth when right fielder Lauren Nisivoccia singled to lead off the inning. A sac bunt sent her to second and Herman delivered the big blow, belting a double down the left field line to send home Nisivoccia with the go ahead run.
From there, the Colonials rode the arm of Reed who left three SHU base runners stranded over the final three innings to earn the win in relief. Her final line read 4.2 innings pitched, three hits, no runs, three walks and three strikeouts. Herman was a perfect 3-for-3 with an rbi and a run scored. Nisivoccia finished 2-for-3 with a run in the win.
The Pioneers got three hits in four at-bats from McDonough and Bradley picked up a pair of singles as well. Spehar pitched all seven in taking the loss for Sacred Heart, giving up three runs on 10 hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
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