March 9, 2006

Box Score

Kissimmee, Fla. - Amy Yusko didn't start in the game against the College of Saint Rose on Thursday afternoon, but she found a way to end it.

Yusko, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the sixth inning, legged out an infield single with two on and two out in the bottom of the seventh inning to deliver a dramatic 2-1 comeback win for the Flyers.

The Flyers also beat St. Cloud State 4-0 earlier in the day and now have won nine of their first 10 games this season.

"I knew if Ashley could get the bunt down it would bring up Amy with a chance to win the game," head coach George DiMatteo said. "There's nobody I'd rather have up in that situation than Amy. She's come through in situations like that countless times.

"We received excellent pitching in both games," DiMatteo added. "Roney was rested and pitched very well with excellent command against St. Cloud. Gartland pitched a supurb game against Saint Rose, keeping us in the game until we were able to get the two runs in the seventh."

Lisa Gartland started the seventh-inning rally against Saint Rose when she dropped a shallow pop fly down the left-field line just under the reach of a diving Saint Rose left fielder. Gartland originally was called out on the play but Flyers' head coach George DiMatteo appealed the call, and the umpires ruled that the left-fielder had trapped the ball.

Shannon Roney came up next as a pinch-hitter and reached first base on an infield single. Ashley LeGrand then moved Julie Wingerter, who came in for Gartland as a pinch-runner, to third base and Roney to second with a sacrifice bunt.

Yusko then sent a slow-roller just past the pitcher on the right side of the infield and was able to beat the second baseman's throw to first by a step. Wingerter scored first on the play, and then Roney slid into home with the winning run just ahead of the throw from first base.

Gartland (2-0) went the distance in the circle to pick up the win, yielding five hits without an earned run while striking out four batters.

Against St. Cloud State, the Flyers scored all four of their runs in the first inning.

Beth Shelus started the rally when she reached first base after the St. Cloud State second baseman dropped a pop-up.

Yusko came up next and singled to left-center field, advancing Shelus to second, and then Roney was hit by a pitch on a 3-2 count to load the bases for Kristy Vanek.

Vanek dropped a bunt right out in front of home plate which was fielded by the pitcher, and Shelus slid under the tag by the catcher for the Flyers' first run. With the bases still loaded, Mallory Paine shot a single into center field to bring home Yusko and Roney.

Vanek scored the fourth run after the St. Cloud State first baseman couldn't handle a throw from the shortstop on a Gartland grounder.

Roney (3-0) did the rest for the Flyers, tossing a two-hit shutout with four strikeouts for her third straight complete game.

The Flyers complete their Florida trip on Friday with games against Dowling (10:40 am) and Findlay (12:30 pm).