04/08/2009
Softball Beats Springfield in Extra Innings; Game 2 Suspended due to Darkness

Springfield, Mass. - April 8, 2009 - The Clark University softball team posted a thrilling 16-11 extra-inning affair in the opening game of its conference doubleheader with hosts Springfield College on Wednesday afternoon. Tied at 8-8, Clark used an 8-run 8th inning to break it open. In game #2, the Cougars led 3-1 entering the Top of the 5th inning before it was suspended due to darkness.

In game #1, Clark immediately scored four runs in the top of the first inning on the strength of a grand slam home run by junior Darcy Kurashige-Elliott (Berkeley, Calif.). The outfielder had a great day overall as she went 4-for-6 in that first game with seven RBI's.

Springfield got one back in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by junior catcher Michelle Wlosek (Nutley, N.J.).

Clark added one in the top of the second on an RBI ground-out by freshman outfielder Stefanie Kettenacker (Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.). But SC came right back with a run of its own in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by senior CF Angie Atkins (East Haddam, Conn.), making it 5-2.

The Cougars scored their sixth run in the top of the fourth on an RBI-double by junior P/1B Melissa Traft (Milton, Mass.). The Pride got two runs back in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by senior LF Amanda Lyons (Eastchester, N.Y.) and on a bases loaded walk by Wlosek.

When Clark scored twice in the top of the sixth, on RBI singles by Traft and Kurashige-Ellliott , it appeared Clark had this game well in hand. But Springfield came back to tie it in regulation with two in the bottom of sixth and two more in the bottom of the seventh. In the sixth, Lyons singled in Atkins, who had doubled to start the inning. Later, freshman Mackenzie O'Dea (Weymouth, Mass.) walked with the bases loaded.

In the seventh inning, with one out, Atkins singled, then Lyons singled. At this point, Traft came on in relief, striking out senior 1B Aimee Cassella (Southington, Conn.). Up by two runs, Clark just needed one more out. Wlosek, however, lashed a single to score Atkins for one run, O'Dea then hit a double down the left field line to score Lyons to tie it up. But Traft got junior OF Bryn Worrilow (North Babylon, N.Y.) on a difficult fly ball to left field to send it to extra innings.

Clark then immediately scored eight runs on seven hits, plus the aid of one error and three walks. The go-ahead run was scored on a bases-loaded RBI single by Traft. That was followed by a 2-RBI single Kurashige-Elliott. Later on, junior SS Chelsea Proulx (Franklin, N.H.) had a 2-RBI double in the same inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, sophomore OF Amanda Novak (Cos Cob, Conn.) popped a three-run home run to left to make the final score 16-11.

Clark will host WPI in a doubleheader on Friday (3 p.m.).

Courtesy of Springfield College Sports Information