03/02/2009
Softball Falls on Day Two in Florida

CLERMONT, FLA. 03/02/09 - The Clark University softball team dropped a pair of games in its second day in Florida on Monday afternoon. The Cougars were blanked by Messiah College, 8-0, in the opener, and lost a 7-5 decision to Ohio Northern University in the nightcap.

Freshman Jessica Rhodes (Dillsburg, Pa.) tossed a no-hitter and Messiah collected 14 hits en route to their first victory of the season.

Junior Melissa Traft (Milton, Mass.) was the losing pitcher for Clark.

In a close second game, Traft's RBI hit tied the score at five-all in the top of the sixth inning. However, Cortney Cash's (Crown Point, Ind.) two-run blast in the bottom half of the frame proved to be the eventual game-winning hit.

Junior Chelsea Proulx (Franlin, N.H.) finished the game with three hits, while sophomore Kate Tutela (Dalton, Mass.) went two-for-three with a double and two RBI. Junior Jo Clark (Windham, Me.) also knocked in a pair of runs.

Sophomore Sarah Carter (Worcester, Mass.) scattered 12 hits while fanning six and walking just two batters in the loss.

Clark will look for its first win of the season against Northland College (Wis.) and Lebanon Valley College (Pa.) on Tuesday.