SB3-18-01

ESU Softball (doubleheader vs. Augustana, Merrimack)

OSCEOLA, Fla. – Tina Morak pitched a six-hitter and Tara Buckley hit a pair of doubles as East Stroudsburg University’s softball team opened its play in the Rebel Spring Games Sunday surprising Augustana, 2-1, in eight innings.

The Warriors, now 2-2, then bowed to Merrimack in a second game which was called after five innings, 9-0. Merrimack was ranked 12th in the latest National Softball Coaches Association Division II poll while Augustana was 16th.

ESU took the lead against Augustana with a sixth-inning run as Buckley doubled and came home on Casey Dixon’s single. The Vikings, now 7-4, tied the game in the bottom of the seventh as Chrissa Landwehr singled, was sacrificed to second and scored on Jennifer Hill’s single.

The Warriors won the game with an unearned run in the eighth. Jill Higgins was on second base under the tie-breaker rule and Deana Geist popped up a bunt. First baseman Megan Faris caught the ball, but threw wild to second base trying for a double play and the ball rolled to the fence while Higgins came around to score.

In the bottom of the eighth, Augustana put a runner on third base with one out, but Morak wrapped up the victory by striking out Katie Kimball and getting Jenni Jarding on a flyout.

Merrimack, which was opening its season, pounced on ESU from the start with four runs in the first inning. Kate Morgis hit a two-run single and Tricia Andrews a two-run triple.

Morgis went 3-for-3 with four runs batted in while Andrews was 2 for 3 with three RBIs.

Pitcher Meghan Condon spun a three-hit shutout, allowing only singles by Geist, Tara Greig and Higgins.

ESU will play another doubleheader today, meeting Florida Southern at 5 p.m. and LIU-Southampton at 7 p.m.

(1st Game)

East Stroudsburg 000 001 01 2-6-3

Augustana, S.D. 000 000 10 1-6-1

Tina Morak and Erika Lee; Amy Klyse and Jenni Jarding

2B – ESU, Tara Buckley 2; A, Robyn Beske

Records: ESU 2-1, Augustana 7-4

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(2nd Game)

Merrimack 420 03 9-8-0

East Stroudsburg 000 00 0-3-1

Meghan Condon and Kristen Travis; Monica Soboleski, Tina Morak (3) and Erika Lee. LP – Soboleski

2B – A, Kate Morgis, Tricia Andrews

3B – A, Heather Faria, Andrews

Records: ESU 2-2, Merrimack 1-0

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