McDONALD HURLS GEM; POWERS WESLEYAN OVER SOFTBALL, 6-0

CLERMONT, Fla. – Sophomore pitcher Julie McDonald (Commack, N.Y.) tossed a complete-game shutout to power the Wesleyan University softball team past Emmanuel College, 6-0, Thursday evening at Legends Way Park during Day 4 action on the National Training Center (NTC) games. The Cardinals improve to 3-2 on the year while the loss drops the Saints to 3-4 overall.

Wesleyan grabbed a quick 3-0 lead with three runs in the top of the first, all coming with two outs. McDonald started the rally with a single down the left field line to knock in the first Cardinal run. Senior Su Pardo (Malverne, N.Y.) delivered the big blow with a two-RBI double to deep centerfield to give Wesleyan the early advantage.

The Cardinals took control of the action with three more runs in the fourth to make it 6-0. All three runs were unearned as Wesleyan made the Saints pay for a costly miscue in the field. Junior Annalie Walsh-Costello (Worcester, Mass.) reached via an error in a sacrifice bunt attempt which allowed the fourth Wesleyan run to come around and score. Senior Mollie Grunat (Ridgewood, N.J.) made it 5-0 with an infield RBI single. McDonald kept the inning alive with an RBI single up the middle for her third hit of the game to bump the Cardinal lead to 6-0.

McDonald had more run support than she would need in the circle as the southpaw kept the Saints offense at bay throughout the game allowing just two hits in a complete game shutout victory. McDonald notches her first win of the season striking out six over seven innings of work.

EC junior pitcher Jill Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.) suffered the loss to fall to 1-4 on the season, allowing the six runs (three earned) over 3 2/3 innings of work before being relieved by junior Samantha Adams (Sanford, Maine). Adams worked the final 3 1/3 innings allowing no runs on one hit.

The only Emmanuel hits came from freshman designated player Ashley Skey (Brookline, N.H,) and Susie Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.)

Emmanuel returns to action later this evening when they take on Waynesburg on Field 1 of Legends Way Park.