March 9, 2004
MONMOUTH OUTLASTS LADY PALADINS IN EIGHT INNING SLUGFEST 9-8
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Shortstop Dawn Gilchrist went 3-for-5 with three doubles and three runs scored, including the game-winning RBI double in the eighth inning, to lift Monmouth to a 9-8 win over Furman in softball action Tuesday afternoon at Pepsi Stadium.
Monmouth opened the scoring in the top of the first plating one run on a wild pitch and one on an error by shortstop Lyndy Wilcox.
Furman answered with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the first. LaKerah Barr led off the inning with a single up the middle. JoDee Eichelberger reached on an error and Megan Jaudon drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out. After a Karen Myers pop up to short, Jessica Matthews reached on an error by Gilchrist allowing Barr to score. Joni Lockridge grounded out to first to drive home Eichelberger and Jaudon scored on a wild pitch to lift Furman to a 3-2 lead.
Jaudon increased Furman's lead to 4-2 in the third with a leadoff homer to left centerfield, her first of her career.
Monmouth regained the lead in the top of the fifth. The Hawks, with the help of two Lady Paladin errors and an Ashley Dellens two-run double to center, took a 5-4 lead.
Furman once again answered in the bottom half of the inning. Jaudon led off with a double and pinch runner Kristen Arnold advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Myers. Matthews followed with a single through the left side knotting the game at 5-5.
Tiffany Kenney, the ninth hitter in the Hawks' order, pushed Monmouth back into the lead in the sixth with a two-out solo home run to left. The Lady Paladins kept pace in the bottom half of the inning as Eichelberger laced a triple to right-centerfield and scored on a wild pitch.
Gilchrist led off the seventh with a double to left field. After a fielder's choice and a single loaded the bases with nobody out, Dellens grounded out to second to drive in the go ahead run.
In the bottom of the seventh, Danielle Franklin drew a two-out walk to get the Furman rally started. Kristin White followed with a game-tying tripe to right-center, but was left stranded on third.
Monmouth would go ahead for good in the top half of the eighth. Sue Micchelli reached on an error by Eichelberger allowing Kenney to score. Gilchrist followed with a double scoring Micchelli for the eventual game-winning run.
Monmouth relief pitcher Angela Rand worked her way out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh to earn the win and improve to 1-0 on the season. Rand allowed four runs on five hits in five innings of work.
Krstin Wilson and Micchelli each scored two runs for the Hawks (1-2), while Dellens went 1-for-3 with three RBI.
Rachel Henley suffered the loss for Furman despite tossing a complete game and striking out ten. Henley (1-8) allowed nine runs, only three earned, on eight hits in eight innings of work.
Jaudon, a freshman from Blacksburg, Va., went 2-for-2 with a double, homer and two runs scored to pace Furman.
Game two of the scheduled doubleheader was called due to darkness with Furman leading 2-0 in the middle of the third inning. The game will not be completed.
With the loss, Furman falls to 2-19 on the season. The Lady Paladins return to action at the Winthrop Invitational in Rock Hill, S.C., March 12-14.