Marauders Sneak by in the Seventh for Season-Opening Win

Saturday, March 6

Clermont, Fla.

1:30 p.m.

Millersville University

American International

Marauders Sneak by in the Seventh for Season-Opening Win

3/6/2010 3:36:21 PM | Softball

Box Score

Clermont, Fla. — A strong collegiate debut in the circle from Alicia Hughes and poised hitting in the bottom of the seventh inning gave Millersville a walk-off 1-0 win over American International College at the National Training Center on Saturday afternoon.

Hughes settled in right away by retiring nine of the first 11 batters she faced. American International (0-1) nearly grabbed the lead in the fourth, but some stellar defense by the Marauders (1-0) nullified that opportunity. Sarah Calgreen's one-out double to left center had teammate Stephanie Belanger —who started on first base— chugging towards home with the go-ahead run, but Lindsay Hosier's relay throw was on the money to Kelly Fitzgerald and the Yellow Jackets left the inning empty-handed.

Opposing Hughes was AIC's Kristen Dolan, who did a nice job of confusing MU hitters herself. Dolan allowed just one hit over six innings and looked, at times, to be in command of the game. In the fifth she yielded back-to-back walks, but got the final two Marauders to end the inning.

The win wouldn't come without some more drama, however. Heading into the seventh Millersville had not made an error all day. Two separate errors gave AIC a bases loaded situation with two outs, but a nice diving play and unassisted force out at third base by Casey Coker halted the threat and set Millersville up for its first season-opening win since 2008.

Consecutive singles by Fitzgerald, Laura DeVoe, and Amy Kossyk to start the bottom half of the seventh put Millersville in the driver's seat. Sam Jackson stepped up and grounded a pitch to AIC shortstop Michelle Franey, who came home for the force but inadvertently threw wide of her catcher. Fitzgerald crossed the plate to secure the win, which Millersville will try and build on later today.

Hughes (1-0) allowed six hits and two walks in going the distance. The southpaw struck out just one AIC hitter, but was composed and kept the ball in the infield for a better part of the afternoon. Dolan (0-1) rung up six Marauders in six innings of work, but gave up three of her four hits in the final stanza.

Millersville returns to the field at 5:30 this evening for a match-up against Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference member, Bloomsburg. Live stats will be available for the game by clicking here.