KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Sophomore starting pitcher Amber Arcand (Millville, Mass.) hurled a complete game two-hit shutout to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team to a 4-0 victory over Catholic University this evening at Fortune Road Athletic Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. as part of the Spring Games.
The Lyons even their record at 2-2, while the Cardinals fall to 3-3.
Wheaton scored single runs in the first, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
Arcand was brilliant, facing just three batters over the minimum for the Lyons, while striking out three and giving up no walks to improve to 1-0 on the season. Senior shortstop Lindsey Oliveira (Westport, Mass.) was 2-4 with a run batted and a stolen base in to pace the offense, while junior center fielder Grace DiBacco (Selkirk, N.Y.) was 1-3 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored and first year second base Ella Molinari (Grafton, Mass.) was 2-3 with a run scored and a stolen base.
First year catcher Elise Faxon (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) and sophomore shortstop Katie Scolese (Alexandria, Va.) led Catholic at the plate, going 1-3 with a single apiece. Senior starting pitcher Justina Benvenuto (Berkeley Heights, N.J.) suffered the loss to dip to 0-1 after yielding three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk to go with a pair of strikeouts.
Wheaton wasted no time getting on the board with a run in the first inning. Junior left fielder Juliette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) led off the game with a double to center field, before moving to third on a sacrifice bunt from DiBacco. Oliveira pushed the first run across with a ground out to second base to bring home Zito to make it 1-0.
The Blue and White took advantage of an error and tacked on a run with two outs in the fourth to double its lead at 2-0. Sophomore designated player Ashlyn Burt (Olathe, Kan.) reached base when the catcher dropped the third strike, advanced to second following an error by the pitcher and scored Wheaton's second run on a single to right from Arcand.
The Lyons added another run in the fifth to take a 3-0 margin. DiBacco rapped a double to right field and Oliveira followed with a single to right to put runners on the corners with one out. DiBacco scored on the front end of a double steal with Oliveira swiping second base.
Molinari began the sixth with a single to center, stole second base and scored ahead of a single to center off the bat of junior right fielder Jillian Rohon (Southington, Conn.) to give Wheaton a 4-0 cushion.
The Lyons to action tomorrow when they return to Fortune Road to take on Loras College at 1:45 p.m., while the Cardinals play Ohio Northern University tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. at Legends Way Ballfields in Clermont, Fla.
