VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- The Bates College softball team got the 2008 season under way Friday with a pair of games at Virginia Wesleyan University, losing to Averett University 4-3 in 9 innings in the opener and dropping a 10-1 decision to Kean University in the Bobcats' second game.
First-year pitcher Sarah Cullen (Dover, Mass.) got the start and threw four scoreless innings, giving up six hits and stranding seven runners. Junior Christina Knobel (Walpole, Mass.) threw the next four innings in relief, giving up two runs in the seventh. First-year Liz Johnston (Westport, Conn.) pitched the ninth, allowing two runs to score -- the international tiebreaker runner and a runner who reached on an error -- before retiring three straight batters to close out the inning.
The Bobcats scored a run in the bottom of the ninth, as junior captain Stacia Saniuk's (Sharon, Mass.) double scored tiebreaker-runner Jean McIntyre (Marshfield, Mass.). Junior Leah Citrin (Rye Brook, N.Y.) walked. After a pop-up to first by sophomore Jill Cappucci (Saugus, Mass.), a groundout by sophomore Liz Stahler (Lyndonville, Vt.) put runners at 2nd and 3rd with two outs. Sophomore Carlen Arima (Bellevue, Wash.) ripped a line drive the Averett first baseman snagged to end the rally and the game.
Bates scored a run in the second, with Arima driving in Cappucci, and one in the fourth, with Stahler driving in junior Val Beckwith (Woburn, Mass.), pinch running for Saniuk. Saniuk was 2-4 with 1 double. Stahler was 2-3 with a walk and a stolen base.
Bates struggled offensively in the day's second game, managing only one hit by senior Alex Bethel (Aspen, Colo.), who went on to score the Bobcats' run on a wild pitch. Senior starting pitcher Shayna Waldman (Playa del Rey, Calif.) struggled with her command, surrendering 7 runs (4 earned) on six hits and two walks. First-year Hannah Dwan (Litchfield, Conn.) pitched the remaining 4 2/3 innings in a solid college debut, giving up three runs on five hits.
Bates will resume play at the Beach Blast on Saturday, with a delayed schedule to account for predicted morning rain. The Bobcats will take on Davis & Elkins at noon and Peace College at 2 p.m. to finish their southern trip.
BOX SCORE: Averett 4, Bates 3 (9 inn.)
BOX SCORE: Kean 10, Bates 1
